Production Supervisor I/II - Paso
Production Supervisor I
Role Summary
The Production Supervisor I is responsible for daily execution and frontline people leadership within an assigned manufacturing area. This role ensures work is performed safely, to standard, on schedule, and with high quality, while developing team capability and maintaining operational discipline.
Production Supervisors are expected to spend the majority of their time leading and coordinating work, with limited hands-on production involvement (approximately up to 50%) as needed to:
Support training and skill development
Address short-term execution gaps
Assist during abnormal or recovery situations
Hands-on work is intentional and situational, not the default mode of operation.
This role involves working closely with manufacturing managers, various engineering disciplines, production staff, and operations teams to support expected outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
Daily Execution & Floor Leadership
Own day-to-day execution for the assigned area, shift, or line
Translate production plans and priorities into clear daily direction
Coordinate labor, sequence work, and manage shift execution
Monitor progress throughout the shift and take corrective action as needed
Escalate risks early and with facts when targets are at risk
Hands-On Support (As Needed)
Provide hands-on support during:
Training and onboarding
Short-term staffing gaps
Complex or critical build steps
Recovery from quality or schedule disruptions
Model correct workmanship, safety, and standard work
Avoid becoming a permanent production resource
Expectation: Supervisors step in to stabilize and teach — not to carry routine production load.
People Leadership & Accountability
Directly manage floor team members, including attendance, performance, and conduct
Set clear expectations and provide regular coaching and feedback
Support training and skill development in coordination with Manufacturing Manager
Foster a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork
Address performance issues promptly and professionally
Safety, Quality & Compliance
Own safety execution within the assigned area
Enforce compliance with AS9100, ITAR, and internal procedures
Serve as first-line quality gate for workmanship and process adherence
Ensure proper containment and escalation of quality issues
Participate in audits and corrective action activities as required
Communication & Coordination
Communicate priorities, risks, and status clearly to Manufacturing Managers
Participate in daily production meetings and execution reviews
Execute Value Stream priorities through established channels
Coordinate with Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering as required
Continuous Improvement & Discipline
Reinforce standard work, 5S, and visual management
Identify improvement opportunities and support Kaizen or problem-solving activities
Balance short-term execution needs with long-term process discipline
Required Qualifications:
High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
3+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
Prior experience as a team lead, lead technician, or informal frontline leader
Strong understanding of:
Manufacturing execution
Quality and workmanship standards
Safety practices in regulated environments
Ability to balance hands-on support with people leadership responsibilities
Strong communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP or production tracking systems
U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance if required
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience supporting end-item UAV assembly or complex electromechanical builds
Exposure to Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving
Prior responsibility for shift leadership or area ownership
Production Supervisor II, Specialty Manufacturing
Role Summary
The Production Supervisor II is responsible for daily execution, frontline leadership, and technical oversight within a specialized manufacturing environment such as Avionics, Machining, Advanced Composites, or other high-complexity production areas.
In addition to standard floor leadership, this role is expected to bring domain-specific manufacturing expertise and serve as the primary execution authority for complex processes, quality standards, and technical problem-solving within their area.
Production Supervisors II operate with greater autonomy, manage higher-risk operations, and are accountable for both people performance and technical execution quality.
Hands-on involvement is typically lower than Supervisor I (generally <30%) and focused on:
Technical coaching
Complex troubleshooting
Process validation
Abnormal recovery situations
This role bridges the gap between frontline execution and manufacturing engineering.
This role involves working closely with manufacturing managers, various engineering disciplines, production staff, and operations teams to support expected outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
Specialty Execution & Technical Leadership
Own daily execution for a technically complex production area
• Serve as subject-matter leader for area-specific processes
• Validate critical build steps and sign off on high-risk operations
• Interpret engineering documentation (drawings, schematics, routings, work instructions) and translate into executable floor guidance
• Lead technical troubleshooting for:
Avionics integration issues
Machining process deviations
Tooling or fixture problems
Test failures or nonconformances
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering to:
Refine processes
Improve yields
Support NPI or design changes
Daily Execution & Floor Leadership
Own day-to-day execution for the assigned area, shift, or line
Translate production plans and priorities into clear daily direction
Coordinate labor, sequence work, and manage shift execution
Monitor progress throughout the shift and take corrective action as needed
Escalate risks early and with facts when targets are at risk
Hands-On Support (As Needed)
Provide hands-on support during:
Training and onboarding
Short-term staffing gaps
Complex or critical build steps
Recovery from quality or schedule disruptions
Model correct workmanship, safety, and standard work
Avoid becoming a permanent production resource
Expectation: Supervisors step in to stabilize and teach — not to carry routine production load.
People Leadership (Advanced)
Directly manage skilled technicians and specialists
• Develop senior technicians into leads or future supervisors
• Set technical competency expectations by role level
• Own cross-training strategy for critical skills
• Manage performance in environments where mistakes have high cost or risk
Safety, Quality & Compliance (Elevated Accountability)
Own quality execution for specialized operations
• Ensure strict adherence to:
AS9100
IPC / J-STD (for avionics)
GD&T / inspection standards (for machining)
Act as first escalation for:
NCRs
MRB inputs
Root cause investigations
Validate corrective actions and ensure sustained process compliance
Participate in audits as area technical representative
Cross-Functional Leadership
Act as the execution interface between:
Engineering
Quality
Supply Chain
Program / Value Stream leadership
• Provide data-driven status, risks, and recovery plans
• Lead technical standups and execution reviews
Continuous Improvement (Technical Focus)
Lead Kaizen efforts tied to:
Process capability
Scrap reduction
Throughput improvement
• Implement visual controls and process metrics
• Support automation, tooling upgrades, and workflow redesign
Required Qualifications:
High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s strongly preferred)
6+ years in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
2+ years in formal supervisory or technical lead role
Demonstrated expertise in at least one specialty domain:
Avionics integration / harness / test
CNC machining / fabrication
Composites / advanced assembly
Strong ability to read and interpret:
Engineering drawings
Schematics
Process specifications
Proven track record managing skilled technical teams
Comfortable owning high-risk production areas
Strong problem-solving and decision-making under pressure
Strong communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP or production tracking systems
U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance if required
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior ownership of:
Avionics production cell
Machining department
Test or integration area
Experience supporting:
First article inspections
MRB processes
NPI or rapid scale programs
Lean / Six Sigma / structured CI training
Mentorship or leadership development experience
Pay range for this role
$75,000—$120,000 USD