Plant Operations Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Operations Manager – EMS Manufacturing

Location: Palatine, IL (On-site, Full-Time)
Company: Aimtron Corporation
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About Aimtron Corporation

Aimtron Corporation is a rapidly growing Electronic Design & Manufacturing Services (EDMS) company specializing in electronics design, PCB assembly, system integration, and full-scale manufacturing solutions . We support customers across industrial, medical, and technology sectors with a strong focus on quality, agility, and innovation.

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations at our Palatine, IL facility .

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) , the Operations Manager will have full responsibility for end-to-end manufacturing operations at the Palatine facility. This role requires strong leadership, deep technical expertise in electronics manufacturing , and the ability to drive operational excellence in a fast-paced EMS environment.

This is a 100% on-site role and requires daily presence at the Palatine location.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all manufacturing operations , including SMT, through-hole, mechanical assembly, box build, testing, and final integration

• Own production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, and workforce optimization

• Drive on-time delivery, quality, productivity, and cost efficiency

• Partner closely with the COO and cross-functional leaders in Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management

• Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Establish, monitor, and improve KPIs (yield, scrap, efficiency, cycle time, OTD)

• Manage and develop manufacturing supervisors, leads, and production teams

• Oversee NPI (New Product Introduction) , process validation, and ramp-up activities

• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, internal SOPs, and industry standards

• Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant manufacturing environment

Required Technical Expertise

• Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT manufacturing , including:

  • Solder paste printing

  • Pick-and-place operations

  • Reflow soldering

• Experience with Through-Hole Assembly (THT) , wave and selective soldering

• Proficiency with AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and defect analysis

• Experience with mechanical assembly, box build, and system-level integration

• Understanding of ECN (Engineering Change Notice) implementation and control

• Familiarity with test processes , including ICT, functional testing, and final inspection

• Knowledge of IPC standards (IPC-A-610 preferred)

Qualifications & Experience

• 7+ years of leadership experience in an EMS / electronics manufacturing environment

• Proven ability to lead in-person manufacturing teams

• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills

• Experience in high-mix, low-to-medium volume manufacturing preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field (preferred)

Compensation

• Salary Range: $85,000 – $100,000 annually (based on experience)

• Competitive benefits and long-term growth opportunities

Why Join Aimtron Corporation

• Direct visibility and partnership with executive leadership

• Opportunity to lead and scale operations in a growing EMS organization

• Hands-on role with meaningful impact on manufacturing performance

Aimtron began in 2009, despite the great economic hardships at the time. The early Aimtron team built the foundation for a great company. After focusing on perfecting our processes domestically, Aimtron mirrors that process at our offshore facility so that our Asia production has the same Aimtron Quality. Aimtron is an international, full service CEM that provides cost effective, integrated and high quality solutions. Aimtron offers expertise in all phases of the product spectrum, for New product development through legacy support. We proudly offer design services, rapid prototyping, and a variety of services to support your needs, regardless of product age or order size.

Company Description

Aimtron began in 2009, despite the great economic hardships at the time. The early Aimtron team built the foundation for a great company. After focusing on perfecting our processes domestically, Aimtron mirrors that process at our offshore facility so that our Asia production has the same Aimtron Quality. Aimtron is an international, full service CEM that provides cost effective, integrated and high quality solutions. Aimtron offers expertise in all phases of the product spectrum, for New product development through legacy support. We proudly offer design services, rapid prototyping, and a variety of services to support your needs, regardless of product age or order size.