Senior Manager, Machining Operations (Precision Machining)

Location: Benson, North Carolina, United States; onsite with regular production-floor presence

Company

Manufactures American rare-earth permanent magnets for critical defense, aerospace, automotive, and other high-technology applications.

What you will do

• Lead machining process startup from equipment specification review and factory acceptance testing through installation, commissioning, process qualification, and rate ramp.
• Partner with engineering, capital execution, automation, and production controls teams on equipment selection, tooling, fixturing, cell layout, controls integration, material flow, and WIP strategy.
• Qualify first articles, process capability, Cpk performance, and production readiness for machining, grinding, coating, and finishing operations across nine production lines.
• Design the four-crew rotating organization, cell structure, technician roles, progression paths, and operator training programs.
• Own safety, OEE, yield, scrap, rework, dimensional and cosmetic quality, SPC, control plans, and structured problem solving.
• Manage the operating expense budget, headcount plan, tooling and consumable strategy, vendor relationships, and monthly cost variance actions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in precision machining or discrete manufacturing operations, including 5+ years leading production teams in a 24/7 multi-shift environment.
• Deep knowledge of CNC machining and precision grinding, including setup, tooling, fixturing, feeds and speeds, tool life, and dimensional variation.
• Strong command of GD&T, dimensional metrology, process capability, Cpk, and statistical process control.
• Experience taking new machining equipment from installation through first article and capability sign-off, establishing OEE measurement, and owning safety performance, including machine guarding, LOTO, and chemical handling.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Nice to have

• Greenfield, startup, or major expansion experience in a machining operation.
• Experience with brittle, hard, magnetic, or rare-earth materials, including pyrophoric swarf handling.
• Experience with electroplating, surface finishing, chemical handling, and wastewater considerations.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification at Green Belt level or higher.
• Experience deploying MES, shop-floor data collection, or automated inspection systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission focused on national security and economic resiliency.
• Operating principles emphasize mission focus, technical excellence, and transparency.
• Regular work on a production floor in potentially hot, humid, or noisy environments.
• Required use of PPE, including respirators, fit testing, and compliance with facility safety procedures.