The Operations Manager will oversee all day-to-day factory operations, including both automated and manual assembly lines. This role is responsible for ensuring production targets are met across safety, quality, output, efficiency, and on-time delivery. You will lead a team of supervisors, operators, and technicians while collaborating closely with Automation Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Customer Success teams

The ideal candidate brings strong experience in automation-enabled manufacturing, excels in fast-paced environments, and applies a structured, data-driven approach to scaling production in a high-tech, innovative setting.

What You Will Be Doing

• Own end-to-end factory operations across production, materials, quality, maintenance, and support functions to ensure safe, reliable execution.
• Convert customer demand into executable production plans aligned with capacity, labor, and automated systems.
• Ensure operational readiness across equipment uptime, staffing, materials, tooling, and quality controls.
• Drive performance against key KPIs including OEE, on-time delivery, cost, labor efficiency, scrap, and throughput.
• Establish standard operating rhythms, shift handoffs, and escalation processes to enable disciplined execution.
• Partner with Automation and Manufacturing Engineering to optimize line performance, system uptime, and scalability.
• Lead NPI, line expansions, and ramp-up of new automated cells and processes.
• Maintain accurate, standardized SOPs, MES documentation, work instructions, and training materials.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for safety, quality, delivery, and operational issues.
• Partner with Quality to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and internal quality standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, operators, and technical staff.
• Set clear expectations and drive accountability across the organization.
• Build organizational capability through training, cross-skilling, and succession planning.
• Own safety performance and promote a zero-incident culture.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain and partners to ensure material flow and execution alignment.
• Ensure clear communication across shifts, departments, leadership, and customer-facing teams.
• Serve as the primary operational interface for execution, delivery commitments, and escalations.

What We Want To See

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of operations or manufacturing leadership, with 3–5 years in automated or high-volume production environments.
• Proven experience managing cross-functional teams across Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance.
• Track record of driving operational KPIs (OEE, on-time delivery, cost, labor efficiency, throughput, scrap) and delivering measurable results.
• Experience leading NPI, line expansions, and ramp-up of automated or semi-automated manufacturing cells.
• Strong knowledge of automated manufacturing systems, MES/ERP, Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional communication and cross-functional collaboration skills with a focus on results and operational excellence.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and delivering reliable customer outcomes in a fast-paced, innovative environment

IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU HAD

• Experience in electronics, electro-mechanical, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to high-mix, low-volume, or configurable manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of A3/8D problem-solving, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement frameworks.
• Experience with advanced automation, robotics, or smart factory initiatives.
• Prior experience implementing design-for-manufacturing (DFM) or design-for-automation (DFA) practices.
• Global or multi-site operations leadership experience

BE EMPOWERED TO CHANGE AN INDUSTRY Bright Machines is a next-generation, AI-enabled manufacturer focused on data center infrastructure assembly operations. Bright Machines uses its proprietary AI-based robotics and software to assemble AI infrastructure hardware products (i.e., data center servers) for hyperscalers and leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). With its new AI factory, Bright Machines addresses increasing market demands for computing power due to the surge of AI and the U.S. national mandate to reshore manufacturing by building data center infrastructure at scale with higher quality and shorter time-to-market.

Bright Machines is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an integration center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The company has been recognized as one of Forbes’ AI 50, awarded “Best AI-based Solution for Manufacturing” by AI Breakthrough, named a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum, and highlighted by several other leading technology and innovation organizations.