Manufacturing Systems Manager

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you! ​

EBAD is seeking a highly skilled Manufacturing Systems Manager to lead, develop, and mentor a team of Systems Engineers while designing, optimizing, and overseeing the integration of advanced manufacturing systems across our operations. This role is responsible for aligning business objectives, production requirements, and technology solutions to create scalable, efficient, and resilient manufacturing environments. The Manufacturing Systems Manager serves as a key bridge between engineering, IT, operations, and leadership teams to ensure seamless execution of digital transformation initiatives. In addition to providing technical and organizational leadership, this role is hands-on in owning the full lifecycle of a business-critical MES application, from design and implementation through day-to-day operations, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Systems Architecture & Design

• Develop and maintain the overall architecture for manufacturing systems, including MES, ERP, SCADA, PLCs, robotics, IoT devices, and cloud platforms.
• Define technical roadmaps that align with business strategy, operational efficiency goals, and industry best practices.
• Ensure system interoperability, security, and scalability.

Integration & Optimization

• Lead the integration of disparate systems into a unified digital manufacturing ecosystem.
• Drive standardization of processes, data models, and system interfaces.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve throughput, quality, and cost efficiency.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with operations, IT, engineering, and supply chain teams to gather requirements and translate them into system capabilities.
• Act as the subject matter expert for manufacturing technologies during vendor evaluations, RFPs, and implementation projects.

Governance & Compliance

• Establish and enforce governance standards for manufacturing systems, including cybersecurity, data integrity, and change management.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations (e.g., ISO, FDA, OSHA) and internal quality standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor system performance and lead root-cause analysis for complex issues.
• Stay current with emerging technologies (Industry 4.0, IIoT, digital twins, AI/ML in manufacturing) and recommend adoption strategies

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Manufacturing Systems Engineers
• Set departmental goals and KPIs aligned with company objectives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing IT/OT systems, with at least 3 years in an architecture or systems leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of MES, ERP, SCADA, PLCs, robotics, and industrial IoT platforms.
• Excellent leadership and team development capabilities.
• Proven experience with system integration, data architecture, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with cloud solutions (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and edge computing in manufacturing environments.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or process optimization methodologies.
• Exposure to digital twin, predictive maintenance, or AI/ML applications in manufacturing.
• Professional certifications (TOGAF, ISA-95/ISA-99, PMP, or related).

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.