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Chief Operations Officer – Digital Manufacturing

Location: Metro Detroit (High-Tech Digital Manufacturing Start-up)

Company Overview

The client is a cutting-edge digital manufacturing start-up with an innovative culture and a forward-thinking, agile approach to automation and industry disruption. We specialize in seamlessly integrating digital design with physical production, leveraging the latest in Industry 4.0, AI-driven manufacturing, and smart factory technologies. Our team is passionate about exploring non-traditional methods and emerging technologies to revolutionize manufacturing. We foster a tech-driven, engineering-focused environment that encourages innovation, rapid iteration, and continuous optimization. If you are excited about disrupting the status quo and driving digital manufacturing into the future, our company offers the perfect environment for you to make a significant impact.

Role Overview

We seek an experienced Chief Operations Officer (COO) to lead our operations and process automation efforts. As COO, you will be a key executive team member, responsible for aligning our operational strategy with the company’s growth and market expansion goals. You will be involved in continuously developing and optimizing our ERP systems, implementing custom software automation, and integrating CAD automation tools into our manufacturing workflows. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a founder’s mentality who can drive backend automation across manufacturing processes and material handling, ensuring seamless integration between digital design and physical production. This role requires high-level strategic thinking and hands-on execution, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations & Workflow Automation: Lead and manage day-to-day operations, focusing on process automation to ensure efficiency in all digital manufacturing workflows.
• ERP System Development: Work with our Software Engineering Team to optimize and integrate our ERP systems with other software and hardware solutions for maximum operational efficiency.
• CAD Automation Oversight: Strategize enhancing customized CAD automation tools, ensuring rapid and flexible design-to-manufacturing execution.
• Backend Manufacturing Automation: Implement backend automation strategies in manufacturing and material handling to minimize inefficiencies, reduce errors, and accelerate production processes.
• Technology Innovation: Stay ahead of emerging technologies, exploring non-traditional methods and innovations in digital manufacturing to keep the company at the forefront of industry advancements.
• Cultural Leadership: Encourage innovation, continuous improvement, and an agile approach to problem-solving to cultivate a tech-driven engineering mindset within the company.
• Executive Collaboration: Work closely with the CEO and executive team to drive scalable and sustainable growth, contributing to strategic planning and execution.
• Scalability & Alignment: Ensure operational scalability and technological advancements align with the company’s growth objectives and market expansion goals.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Promote and implement data-driven decision-making across all aspects of operations and the supply chain to enhance efficiency and transparency.
• Performance Optimization: Establish and track KPIs across operations, ensuring goals are met or exceeded. Use data-driven decision-making to identify bottlenecks and develop effective solutions.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all operations comply with relevant regulations, safety standards, and environmental policies
• Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing operations team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. Develop leadership pipelines and ensure alignment across teams to meet business objectives.
• Financial Management: Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost control for operations. Identify and implement strategies to improve margins, reduce costs, and maximize efficiency.

Core Skills

• Leadership: A strong leader who inspires trust and motivates teams to excel.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and execute scalable, forward-looking operational strategies.
• Operational Expertise: Extensive knowledge of manufacturing operations, supply chain management, and logistics.
• Financial Acumen: Proficient in budgeting, financial analysis, and cost optimization.
• Problem-solving: Resourceful and creative in identifying and addressing challenges.
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Decision-Making: Strong judgment in high-pressure and complex situations.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Operational Expertise: Strong background in operations management, digital manufacturing, automation, or engineering (startup and high-tech environment experience preferred).
• ERP Experience: Expertise in ERP system implementation and optimization, with a track record of integrating ERP with other business systems.
• Automation Experience: Hands-on experience with CAD automation tools and backend manufacturing process automation, with the ability to customize and improve these systems.
• Industry 4.0 Knowledge: Deep understanding of Industry 4.0 principles, AI-driven manufacturing techniques, and smart factory systems.
• Strategic Vision: Strategic thinker with a founder’s mentality and a passion for disruptive technology in manufacturing. Able to balance big-picture vision with attention to detail in execution.
• Leadership: Proven leadership experience in a high-tech or industrial start-up environment, with the ability to inspire and manage cross-functional teams.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making and experience using data/metrics to drive improvements.
• Experience with lean manufacturing: Six Sigma or other operational improvement methodologies.
• 10+ years of operational leadership experience, Ideally in manufacturing, logistics, or a related industry

Why Join?

Joining our team means you will be at the forefront of transforming manufacturing through technology. You will have the opportunity to shape the operational foundation of a company poised to disrupt the industry. We offer a collaborative start-up atmosphere where innovation is celebrated, agility is key, and your ideas can significantly influence the direction of the company. As COO, you will play a pivotal role in scaling our operations and driving our vision of a smarter, more efficient manufacturing future.

Confidentiality: Candidates will be required to sign an NDA. 

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Strong equity package
• Relocation allowance for out-of-state
• Health insurance and 401k plan
• Vacation days Negotiable