Manufacturing Operations Manager

Manufacturing Operations Manager

NeuroBionics is hiring a Manufacturing Operations Manager to run the day-to-day engine that turns build plans into shipped hardware. This is a hands-on, working role: you'll own manufacturing execution, personally run in-process and final inspection, drive process optimization, manage 1-2 manufacturing operators, own inventory, and hold purchasing authority over your critical build vendors.

This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in the "messy middle" between engineering intent and real-world output it's staying close to the work, driving it to closure fast, and keeping engineering and quality unblocked. You'll install lightweight systems and a reliable execution cadence without introducing bureaucracy, working directly with the CEO, CTO, and technical leads, and partnering with Quality for disciplined, traceable execution.

Location: On-site in Cambridge/Somerville, MA. Title will be adjusted based on experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

Run manufacturing execution and labor planning:

• Establish and operate a weekly build plan + daily execution cadence, with clear priorities, WIP visibility, and rapid blocker removal.
• Lead and develop a team of 1-2 manufacturing operators: staffing plans, onboarding, training, schedules, and performance expectations.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality to ensure builds follow the right revs, specs, and release criteria.

Own inspection and process optimization:

• Run in-process and final inspection end-to-end, operating within the quality system and partnering with Quality on release criteria.
• Drive continuous improvement on the floor: attack yield, cycle time, and variation with standard work, checklists, and 5S where it earns its keep.
• Reduce rework, expedites, and tribal-knowledge dependencies.

Own inventory and critical build-vendor purchasing:

• Stand up practical inventory systems: item-master hygiene, min/max or reorder points, cycle counts, shortage visibility.
• Hold purchasing authority for critical build vendors quotes, POs, confirmations, delivery tracking, and escalation so parts arrive on time for the build.
• Keep BOM-related purchasing aligned with Engineering as designs change.
• Coordinate with Business Operations, which owns general procurement, AP, and back-office vendor/SOW management.

Own relationships with critical vendors:

• Drive disciplined SOW and deliverable tracking: milestones, timelines, quality expectations, and cost control.
• Anticipate risks (lead times, quality escapes, schedule slips) and communicate mitigation plans early.

Own shipping, receiving, and fulfillment discipline:

• Run incoming inspection coordination, labeling, kitting, packing, and shipment tracking.
• Define and maintain an early order-to-ship workflow, including documentation and handoffs.

Build lightweight systems that reduce chaos:

• Stand up simple dashboards and rituals that make throughput, shortages, vendor status, and the shipping queue visible.
• Drive continuous improvement: standard work, checklists, 5S where it earns its keep, and steady reduction of rework and expedites.

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years in operations/manufacturing in medtech (startup preferred) or a closely regulated hardware environment.
• A track record of moving fast under constraint hitting aggressive timelines and driving cross-functional work to closure. Be ready to walk through specific examples.
• Hands-on experience owning in-process and final inspection end-to-end and process optimization in a hardware/manufacturing setting (yield, cycle time, standard work, in-process quality checks). You'll be the inspection owner, not a backstop to one.
• Demonstrated experience taking at least one product from development into production (or an equivalent production ramp).
• Strong working knowledge of inventory control and vendor/purchasing management for manufacturing inputs in a hardware setting.
• Comfortable being the close-to-the-floor lead for a small operation (1-2 direct reports), running inspection and process work directly not just managing people.
• High attention to detail and disciplined execution (revisions, parts, traceability basics).

Preferred:

• Medical device startup experience (or similarly resource-constrained, high-ambiguity setting).
• Familiarity with ISO 13485 / design controls / basic quality system concepts you won't be the QE, but you operate inside the system and run inspection within it.
• Experience with early-stage MRP/ERP tools, or building MRP-light processes in spreadsheets and translating build plans into purchasing actions.
• Local Boston/Cambridge vendor and staffing network.

Working Conditions

This position will be on-site at our various locations in Somerville and Cambridge, MA.

What we offer:

• Opportunity to learn and work for a mission-driven, VC-backed, MIT-spinoff on one of the most impactful problems that can change lives
• Competitive and experience-guided compensation and meaningful equity stake
• 3 weeks flexible PTO + 1.5 week company shutdown
• Full benefits plan including:
• Health, dental and vision insurance covered at 100%
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Parental & Medical Leave
• Life and Long-term Disability insurance
• 401(k)
• Health & wellness benefit

Join NeuroBionics and contribute to the evolution of cutting-edge neural technology that has the potential to revolutionize the field of neurobiology and improve the lives of countless individuals worldwide.