Production Manager

ABOUT SPACE AGE ELECTRONICS

Space Age Electronics is a 60 year-old manufacturer of fire alarm and life safety systems, serving over 1,000 fire alarm integrators nationwide. With operations in Sterling, MA, Templeton, MA, and Charlotte, NC, we design and build the products that protect people and property every day. Our commitment: Protect. Partner. Perform.™

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're looking for a hands-on Production Manager to lead assembly operations at our Sterling, MA facility. This role owns day-to-day production for our Eclips, AcerBox, Shield, and accessory product lines, along with warehouse inventory control and shipping & receiving. It is the operational backbone connecting what we build to what reaches our customers. You'll lead a cross-functional team of hourly associates and be a visible, active presence on the floor every day.

Our core values shape how we work together every day. Here's what they look like in this role.

OUR CORE VALUES, APPLIED TO THIS JOB

Takes Responsibility. Own It!

You take ownership of the outcomes on the floor: daily output, inventory accuracy, on-time shipments, and safety. When something goes sideways, you step in, communicate early, and work with partners in Supply Chain and Engineering to get it back on track. You help your team take the same pride in their own stations.

Strong Work Ethic

This is an active, on-the-floor role. Three product lines, a warehouse, and a shipping dock keep the days full, and your team looks to you for energy and consistency. You lead by example and stay engaged through the busy stretches.

Thorough. Detail Oriented.

Cycle counts, ERP transactions, documented shipping processes, SMT and thru-hole test results. Getting the details right is a big part of this job. You have a good eye for the small things and you care that the system matches what's on the shelf.

Curious. Willing to Learn. Self Motivated. Trainable.

Epicor Kinetic, surface-mount process, product line transitions, ISO 9001. There's always something new to learn here, and we value people who are curious about it. You're comfortable asking questions, open to coaching, and you encourage the same mindset across your team.

Think Creatively. Resourceful. Efficient.

Unplanned downtime, a bottleneck on the accessory line, a layout that could flow better. You enjoy finding practical solutions with the resources at hand, and you look for ways to make each process a little smoother over time. Lean tools help, and so does a resourceful mindset.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production & Assembly

• Own daily production execution and output across multiple product lines and accessory assembly.
• Oversee electronics assembly and test operations, including both SMT (surface-mount technology) and thru-hole processes.
• Oversee custom screening and branding operations.
• Oversee custom wiring solutions for prefabricated assemblies.
• Manage labor allocation, workflow planning, and day-to-day floor leadership for a cross-functional hourly workforce.
• Drive on-time completion and throughput across all assembly lines.

Inventory Control

• Own inventory accuracy across central and finished goods warehouses.
• Manage the cycle count program and drive continuous improvement in inventory accuracy.

Shipping, Receiving & Fulfillment

• Own shipping and receiving operations for the site.
• Establish and maintain clear, documented shipping and fulfillment processes.
• Manage on-time delivery performance for subcontracted work, partnering closely with Supply Chain.

Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a strong safety culture on the production floor and in the warehouse; track and reduce safety incidents.
• Monitor equipment performance and minimize unplanned downtime.
• Partner cross-functionally on strategic initiatives, including product line transitions and process improvement projects.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• An engaged, stable team that takes pride in its work and shows our core values on the floor every day
• Consistent, predictable output that customers and sales can plan around
• Strong, open communication with Customer Success, Templeton fabrication, Sales, and leadership, so surprises are rare and problems surface early
• Accurate inventory, reliable shipping, and low cycle count variance as the norm rather than the goal
• A safe, low-incident production environment
• Visible commitment to building a next generation facility: better equipment, better flow, better processes, and a team ready to run them

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Proven experience leading production or manufacturing teams of 20 hourly associates, ideally in electronics, assembly, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of inventory control and warehouse management practices.
• Experience with shipping, receiving, and fulfillment operations.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality principles as applied to production environments.
• Forklift operation and safety oversight experience.
• Experience with Epicor Kinetic or a comparable ERP system strongly preferred.
• Proven experience with Lean tools and techniques: 5S, Visual Management, Structured Problem Solving, Leader Standard Work, Takt Time, and related methods.
• A hands-on leadership style. Comfortable on the floor, not just in reports.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner across engineering, quality, and supply chain functions.
• Alignment with our core values. We'd love to hear how they've shown up in your work.

WHY JOIN SPACE AGE ELECTRONICS

You'll join a growing, mission-driven manufacturer at a pivotal point in its history, building products that protect lives, backed by an ownership group investing in our people, equipment, and processes. This is an opportunity to make a visible, immediate impact on a well-established production operation.

Space Age Electronics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

You should be proficient in:

• Leadership / People Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Production Optimization
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Operational Metrics & KPI Management
• Inventory Management & Control

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• ERP Software
• Epicor Kinetic