The Role

We are seeking an experienced Production Supervisor to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations supporting energetic materials, propellant mixing, and hazardous chemical processing, including operations involving hypergolic substances. This role is responsible for supervising technicians, driving execution to the production schedule, and ensuring all work is performed safely, consistently, and in compliance with approved processes, engineering requirements, and quality standards.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with experience in aerospace, defense, energetics, or other tightly controlled chemical manufacturing environments. This person must balance schedule, quality, and safety while maintaining rigorous process discipline, personnel readiness, and material accountability. The Production Supervisor will play a critical role in scaling production capacity, developing frontline talent, and delivering reliable, traceable hardware and materials ready for downstream operations and testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily production activities involving energetic materials manufacturing, propellant preparation and mixing, batch processing, and controlled handoff to downstream operations and test teams.
• Supervise, coach, and develop technicians and lead technicians to strengthen technical execution, accountability, safety awareness, and continuous growth.
• Drive daily attainment to production schedules while balancing labor, material availability, approved processing windows, equipment readiness, inspection hold points, and downstream demand.
• Enforce compliance with approved procedures for the handling, storage, movement, and disposition of hazardous and reactive chemicals, including hypergolic materials, in partnership with EHS.
• Verify personnel training and authorization, required protective measures, pre-task safety reviews, and readiness of engineered controls before work begins; exercise stop-work authority when conditions are unsafe.
• Ensure all manufacturing work follows released work instructions, approved process specifications, batch records, engineering requirements, and formal change-control practices.
• Maintain strict material and batch traceability, lot genealogy, inventory accountability, process documentation, and configuration control requirements.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, Planning, Facilities, and Test teams to resolve constraints, evaluate changes, and maintain safe production flow.
• Oversee in-process verification, quality hold points, nonconformance escalation, and corrective actions to protect product integrity and prevent recurring issues.
• Maintain high standards for 5S, chemical labeling and housekeeping, tool accountability, equipment maintenance, calibration compliance, and organized work areas.
• Promote proactive hazard reporting, incident and near-miss escalation, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

Required Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in aerospace, defense, energetics, chemical processing, propulsion, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
• 2+ years of experience in a leadership role such as Production Supervisor or equivalent shop-floor team leadership position.
• Experience supporting controlled chemical processing, energetic material manufacturing, propellant operations, or other safety-critical production processes.
• Working knowledge of chemical hazard communication, safety data sheets, task risk assessments, PPE requirements, and disciplined adherence to approved handling procedures.
• Experience with manufacturing documentation, batch or traveler records, material traceability, and AS9100 / ISO 9001 or comparable quality management systems.
• Experience with manufacturing software systems (e.g., Jira, ERP/MRP, MES, PLM) and the ability to interpret process specifications, work instructions, and engineering documentation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to coordinate effectively across production, engineering, quality, EHS, planning, and program teams.
• Ability to work extended hours or alternate shifts as needed to support production schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supervising propellant mixing, energetics production, hazardous chemical processing, or operations involving hypergolic substances.
• Familiarity with applicable OSHA/Cal-OSHA, environmental, hazardous materials, and explosives safety requirements relevant to assigned operations.
• Experience participating in process hazard reviews, management of change, equipment readiness assessments, and emergency response preparedness.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, low-rate initial production, or production ramps in propulsion, energetic materials, or aerospace programs.
• Knowledge of nonconformance reporting, root-cause and corrective action (RCCA), material genealogy, and controlled manufacturing record requirements.
• Experience implementing lean manufacturing, 5S, visual management, and continuous improvement practices in a high-mix, low-volume, safety-critical production environment.

Additional Requirements