Senior Manager Manufacturing Operations 

Senior Manager / Director, Manufacturing Operations

Pivotal Systems is seeking a Manufacturing Operations leader for our Fremont, California facility as we ramp to high-volume production. You will own manufacturing operations for a 24x7 site and be accountable for output, efficiency, quality, and safety. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has taken products from NPI through volume, built the teams and systems to sustain that growth, and holds the line on both customer commitments and a safe workplace.

Production ramp and output

Lead the Fremont manufacturing organization through the transition from low-volume to high-volume production, including capacity planning, line balancing, and ramp readiness across all shifts.

Set and drive production plans, throughput targets, and on-time delivery goals. Maximize output and efficiency while protecting quality.

Identify and eliminate manufacturing constraints and waste through process redesign, workflow improvement, and continuous improvement programs (5S, lean, root-cause problem solving).

Partner with Engineering on NPI handoffs, process development, and design-for-manufacturability so new products ramp predictably.

24x7 manufacturing operations leadership

Run multi-shift manufacturing operations at the Fremont facility with clear accountability, strong shift handoffs, and consistent performance across days, nights, and weekends.

Build and develop a bench of managers, supervisors, and technicians. Own hiring, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.

Establish daily management routines (metrics, tiered meetings, escalation paths) so issues are surfaced and resolved quickly.

Quality ownership

Own manufacturing quality outcomes, including containment, nonconformance management, and corrective and preventive action.

Lead structured problem solving (8D, 4C, or equivalent) on internal and customer-reported issues, and serve as the senior escalation point for customer quality concerns.

Work with Quality and Engineering to strengthen process controls, inspection, and test strategies as volumes increase.

Safety and workplace culture

Own EHS performance for the Fremont manufacturing floor. Build a proactive safety culture grounded in ergonomics, training, hazard identification, and accountability at every level.

Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including California and local Fremont requirements.

Supply chain and cross-functional partnership

Work closely with Supply Chain, Materials, and Planning on inventory accuracy, kitting, shipping and receiving, and vendor performance.

Partner with Sales, Customer Support, Engineering, and Finance on forecasts, customer commitments, and the manufacturing operations budget.

Report operational performance and risks clearly to executive leadership.

Required

12+ years of manufacturing operations experience in semiconductor, semiconductor capital equipment, or a comparable high-precision manufacturing environment.

Demonstrated success ramping new products and processes into high-volume production.

Proven experience leading large manufacturing organizations (100+ employees), including managers and supervisors, in a multi-shift or 24x7 environment.

Track record of improving throughput, on-time delivery, and quality metrics with measurable results.

Hands-on experience with structured problem solving (8D, 4C, root-cause analysis) and customer escalations.

Strong commitment to workplace safety, with experience building safety programs or ergonomics initiatives.

Excellent communication, with the ability to influence across Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and executive teams.

Ability to work on-site in Fremont, CA.

Preferred

Experience in cleanroom or wafer, probe, assembly, and test manufacturing.

Startup or greenfield factory experience, including scaling operations through multiple years of growth.

Background in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Six Sigma methodologies.

Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and data-driven performance management.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Success in the First 12 Months Looks Like

A clear, funded ramp plan with capacity milestones met on schedule.

Stable, consistent manufacturing performance across all shifts, with measurable gains in output and efficiency.

Improved on-time delivery and a faster, more disciplined corrective-action process.

A strong safety record and visible safety culture on the Fremont floor.

A leadership bench in place across every shift.