IPT Operations Leader

About the job

IPT Operations Leader

Armtec Defense Technologies (Armtec) is an operating unit of the Transdigm Group (NYSE: TDG), an industry leader in aerospace and defense products and services. Armtec is comprised of three business units producing subcomponents for ordnance in Coachella, CA; decoy countermeasure Flares in Camden AR; and radar countermeasure chaff in Lillington NC. At Armtec, we welcome skilled and enthusiastic people who share our determination and high standards to join us in our mission-critical work supporting the US and allied war-fighters who serve us all by defending democracy and protecting freedom. This position is staffed in Camden, AR., at Armtec’s world-class facility for decoy countermeasure Flares.

Company Profile

Company: Armtec Defense Technologies is an operating unit of the TransDigm Group (NYSE:TDG

Industry: Manufacturing Combustible Ordnance and Countermeasures

Job Overview Title: IPT Operations Leader Job Family: Production Reports to: Site Leader Works with:  Engineering Lead, Quality Engineer, Planner, Production Supervisor, Industrial Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Controls/Automation Engineer, Engineering Technician, Procurement, and shop floor teams. Location: Camden, AR, USA Type: Full Time Job Summary Responsible for leading all day-to-day manufacturing operations within the Integrated Product Team (IPT) for assigned programs. Serves as the primary operations integrator between the Program Manager, engineering, quality, planning, and shop floor execution. Ensures safe, compliant, efficient, and on-schedule production of countermeasures while driving operational excellence, resource optimization, and continuous improvement. This position proactively supports LEAN initiatives, productivity projects, capital equipment integration, and cross-functional collaboration to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, and customer requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides operational leadership and direction for all manufacturing activities within the IPT, including chemical mixing, extrusion, tooling, and related manufacturing processes.
• Works closely with the Planner to develop, monitor, and adjust realistic production schedules (including the Integrated Master Schedule) while identifying and mitigating capacity, resource, and bottleneck risks.
• Collaborates with the Production Supervisor to optimize staffing, labor utilization, equipment availability, and material flow to achieve production targets.
• Owns and drives key operational KPIs including on-time delivery, first-pass yield, cycle time, throughput, utilization, downtime, scrap rate, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Leads or supports continuous improvement initiatives using LEAN principles, 5S, kaizen events, and variability reduction in partnership with the Industrial Engineer and Quality Engineer.
• Ensures timely and effective implementation of manufacturing procedures, engineering changes, productivity projects, and new capital equipment on the shop floor with minimal disruption.
• Facilitates daily/weekly operations meetings, gemba walks, and problem-solving sessions; escalates major production, quality, safety, or delivery issues as needed.
• Champions safety programs and ensures full compliance with Armtec’s Safety, Environmental, and Quality policies, including proper handling of hazardous materials and PPE usage.
• Supports the integration of new products, processes, and automation while coordinating operator training and production ramp-up.
• Actively participates in scrap reduction, process improvement, and productivity projects; provides operational input to capital project planning and execution.
• Maintains strong cross-functional coordination with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and Procurement to ensure seamless program execution.
• Prepares and communicates operational status, risks, and performance metrics site leadership and program stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Maintains the highest ethical standards, even when challenged from above.
• Understands and lives by Armtec’s ethics and business conduct policies.

Qualifications

• Must be well organized, detail oriented, knowledgeable of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Ability to effectively compose letters and correspondence.

• Possesses familiarity with business math, internet, calculator, copier, telephone and fax machine.

• Projects an outstanding degree of judgment, organization, planning, initiative, flexibility and creativity.

• Must maintain accuracy, concentration, alertness, and be detail-oriented.

• Must be able to perform calmly and reasonably under pressure from demand for production and other exigencies.

• Must be resourceful and very creative pertaining to equipment design, performance and repair.

• Physical capabilities include walking up and down steps, to various programs as the situation warrants and exposure to loud noises in a manufacturing environment.

Armtec Competencies

• Must be able to demonstrate ability in the Armtec competencies for all employees, customer focus, ethics & values, problem solving, integrity & trust, functional/technical skills, listening, action-oriented, composure and values diversity.

Education/Previous Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive manufacturing/operations experience in a defense, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience leading or managing production operations, preferably within a cross-functional team or IPT structure.
• Demonstrated success implementing LEAN, continuous improvement, and productivity initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of production scheduling, capacity planning, and shop floor management.
• High energy level with excellent reasoning, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Dedicated to meeting production commitments while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Able to interface productively with all levels of employees and functional groups.
• Ability to read and write English.

Work Hours

4/10 workweek with overtime as required

To Apply

Please apply on-line on the Armtec Career Website, www.armtecdefense.com

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Protected Vet

Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

To conform to U.S. export control regulations, applicant should be eligible for any required authorization from the U.S. Government This position requires access to export control information.