Director of Manufacturing Operations - Gridware

Gridware exists to enhance and protect the mother of all networks: the electrical grid. The grid touches everything, and when it grinds to a halt, the consequences can be dire: wildfires burn, land is destroyed, property is damaged, progress stops, and lives are lost.

Our team engineers an advanced sensing system to continuously analyze both the electrical and mechanical behavior of grid assets. Utilizing high-precision sensor arrays, the system identifies and allows preemptive mitigation of faults. The technology has been proven with utilities to bolster safety, reliability, and reduce customer outage durations. The demand for power will only increase. We protect the grid of today while we build the grid of tomorrow.

Gridware is privately held and backed by the best climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. We are headquartered in the Bay Area in northern California.

Team Overview:

The Manufacturing Operations team oversees the relationship with our contract manufacturer, ensuring that production meets our high standards for quality while keeping pace with our growth, partnering closely with our hardware design teams and our field operations deployment teams.

Role Description:

The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for overseeing all aspects of production operations, from supply chain management to quality control, ensuring that Gridware's products are manufactured to the highest standards. This role involves strategic planning, building and maintaining relationships with key vendors, and leading continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing efficiency and scalability. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of hardware manufacturing, and have experience scaling complex production operations.

Responsibilities:

The Director of Manufacturing will, as a starting point, be responsible for the following:

Manufacturing Strategy and Planning:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that aligns with Gridware's growth objectives, focusing on scalability, cost-efficiency, and quality.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and inventory management to ensure timely delivery of products.

Vendor and Supplier Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with contract manufacturers, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to optimize the supply chain and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Negotiate contracts and manage vendor performance, ensuring compliance with Gridware’s quality and delivery requirements.

Inventory Management:

• Evaluate, recommend and implement and inventory management system that enables Gridware's growth.
• Partner with the contract manufacturer and field operations to manage all inventory tracking and logistics. This includes strict record keeping to enable smooth deployment and ongoing replacements as necessary.

Quality Assurance and Control:

• Implement and maintain rigorous quality control processes and standards across all production stages to minimize defects and returns.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action planning for any quality issues, working closely with engineering and product teams.

Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reductions, driving Lean manufacturing principles and best practices.
• Lead cross-functional teams in implementing projects to enhance production efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize resources.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing manufacturing team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that team members are aligned with company goals and are equipped with the skills and tools needed to excel.

Required Skills:

• 15+ years of experience in manufacturing management, including 5+ years in a leadership role within the electronics or electrical equipment industry.
• Demonstrated abilities in strategic planning, operations management, and supply chain optimization.
• Technical proficiency in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Strong fundamentals in quality management systems and production control.

Bonus Skills:

• The ideal candidate will have experience in taking a product from the design stage through scaled production.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 and 14001 standards and experience with sustainability initiatives in manufacturing will be advantageous.
• If you do not have all of the bonus skills, we encourage you to apply. We are looking for leaders who are passionate about manufacturing excellence and innovation.

Benefits:

• Flexible hours / hybrid schedule for those in the Bay Area
• Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum plans fully covered)
• Paid parental leave
• Commuter allowance
• Company-paid training

Gridware is an equal opportunity employer. We want applicants of diverse backgrounds and hire without regard to color, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.