Full-Time
Manufacturing Manager
Hypersonics Machining
Updated on 9/11/2026
Leidos
10,001+ employees
Defense, intelligence, and civil IT solutions
Compensation Overview
$116.3k - $210.3k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Huntsville, AL, USA
In Person
Must reside in or relocate to the Huntsville–North Alabama area.
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required
Bachelor's, Master's
 Manufacturing & Production Operations (1) |
|---|
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- A Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field with 8+ years of prior relevant work experience, or a Master's degree with 6+ years of prior relevant work experience in a manufacturing, machining, or operations environment.
- At least 8 years of progressive machining or manufacturing experience, including leadership responsibility in a production environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing computer numerical control machining operations.
- Strong technical knowledge of computer numerical control programming, machining processes, tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, and process optimization.
- Demonstrated experience with non-metallic machining.
- Demonstrated experience activating, launching, relocating, or standing up a manufacturing facility or production operation.
- Experience with equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, process validation, and production ramp-up.
- Demonstrated accountability for Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery performance.
- Experience leading technical and production personnel in a machining environment.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous-improvement principles.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
- Must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Huntsville–North Alabama area.
- Must be a United States citizen and possess a Secret clearance.
- Lead facility activation and machining-operation start-up, including equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, and production release.
- Develop and execute integrated readiness plans covering equipment, tooling, fixturing, computer numerical control programming, processes, staffing, training, material flow, inspection, and production controls.
- Establish machining cells, work centers, material flow, standard work, and visual management.
- Identify and resolve facility, equipment, tooling, workforce, and process constraints affecting production readiness and ramp-up.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Facilities, Environment, Health and Safety, and Program Management to achieve manufacturing milestones.
- Provide operational and technical leadership for computer numerical control machining, programming, tooling, workholding, and process optimization.
- Apply expertise in non-metallic machining to support equipment activation and qualification.
- Partner with computer numerical control programming and Manufacturing Engineering to review and optimize programs and machining processes to improve cycle time, tool life, quality, and equipment utilization.
- Troubleshoot complex machining and process issues and coordinate solutions with machinists and the technical support team.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to establish machining standards, work instructions, setup procedures, and process documentation.
- Own and continuously improve Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery performance for the machining organization.
- Establish a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with Environment, Health and Safety requirements and machine safety standards.
- Drive first-time-right manufacturing and reduce scrap, rework, defects, and process variation.
- Manage labor, tooling, consumables, scrap, equipment utilization, and other manufacturing costs.
- Establish and monitor metrics including overall equipment effectiveness, utilization, cycle time, labor efficiency, scrap, rework, and schedule performance.
- Own production execution and ensure machining capacity and output support program schedules and customer commitments.
- Lead structured problem solving and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of machinists, computer numerical control programmers, leads, supervisors, and manufacturing personnel.
- Establish workforce plans, training requirements, and qualification processes to support facility activation and production ramp.
- Recruit, develop, and retain machining talent.
- Promote accountability, technical excellence, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence on the manufacturing floor.
- Establish a safe, capable, scalable, and production-ready machining operation with measurable improvement in facility and equipment readiness, production capacity and utilization, computer numerical control process stability and capability, schedule and delivery performance, first-pass yield and quality, scrap and rework, labor and manufacturing cost, overall equipment effectiveness, workforce capability and staffing readiness, and overall Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery performance.
- Experience establishing a machining operation from greenfield or near-greenfield conditions.
- Aerospace, defense, space, automotive, or other highly regulated manufacturing experience.
- Advanced experience with composite or non-metallic materials and associated machining processes.
- Experience with multi-axis computer numerical control machining and complex geometries.
- Experience with computer numerical control programming platforms such as Mastercam, NX CAM, GibbsCAM, Fusion, or equivalent.
- Experience with enterprise resource planning, materials requirements planning, and/or Manufacturing Execution Systems.
- Experience managing multiple shifts and production ramp-up.
- Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or comparable quality-management systems.
- Experience implementing overall equipment effectiveness, visual management, daily management, and other manufacturing operating systems.
Leidos is a large technology and engineering company that serves defense, intelligence, healthcare, and civil government customers. It provides scientific, engineering, and IT solutions to help ensure safety, health, and efficiency, from upgrading air traffic control to strengthening cybersecurity for critical missions. The company delivers integrated systems and services—software, research, cyber defense, and digital modernization—through programs that span government and commercial clients. Leidos stands out through its long history as SAIC’s split-off and rapid growth via major acquisitions, creating a broad, mission-focused portfolio across defense, space, intelligence, and civilian sectors. Its overarching goal is to help customers solve hard problems with advanced technology, enabling safer operations and better public services.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Reston, Virginia
Founded
1969
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sea Hunter and Seahawk logged 200,000 nautical miles through September 2026, validating autonomy.
- Leidos won a $56 million Naval Health Research Center contract on August 2026.
- Punta Cana Airport adopted Leidos ClearScan with SeeTrue AI on August 24, 2026.
What critics are saying
- GDIT’s July 10, 2026 GAO protest targets Leidos’ roughly $11 billion DISA expansion.
- Leidos issued 305 layoff notices in June 2026, signaling margin pressure and reorganization.
- A DHS contract cancellation after Nightwing’s protest shows Federal customers can unwind Leidos awards quickly.
What makes Leidos unique
- Leidos combines LAVA autonomy, RAVe geospatial AI, and ClearScan hardware across missions.
- Kudu Dynamics acquisition, completed May 28, 2025, strengthened offensive cyber and spectrum warfare.
- Fiscal 2025 backlog reached $49.0 billion, including $9.7 billion funded backlog, supporting scale.
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Benefits
Medical, dental, & vision insurance
Health Savings account
Income protection
PTO
Paid parental leave
Jury duty pay
Bereavement leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Family Benefits
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 8%1 year growth
↑ 8%2 year growth
↑ 8%Leidos autonomous vessels Sea Hunter and Seahawk participated in significant naval operations, demonstrating advanced maritime autonomy capabilities. Sea Hunter operated at RIMPAC 2026 as the exercise's only Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, autonomously travelling over 2,000 nautical miles from Hawaii to California. Seahawk became the first MUSV to deploy operationally with a carrier strike group, joining the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Both vessels use Leidos Autonomous Vessel Architecture (LAVA), featuring autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, and GPS-denied operation. Across its autonomous maritime portfolio, Leidos has accumulated over 200,000 nautical miles and 14,000 hours of safe autonomous operation. The company previously demonstrated offensive capabilities in 2021 when its MUSV Ranger test-fired an SM-6 Standard Missile. Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2026.
ADHA sticks with Accenture for My Health Record support. Sep 1 2026 4:28PM Creates new operating model. The Australian Digital Health Agency will stick with Accenture for infrastructure services underpinning My Health Record, signing a new $162m deal. The agency went to market for "application support and maintenance services" in July last year, testing a package of work that Accenture had held as the "national infrastructure operator" since 2012. Accenture has since made tens of millions more from a transition arrangement - required while ADHA tested the market - but has now landed the work again. The new contract is worth approximately $161.6 million and runs for three years from August 28 2026 to August 27 2029. There is one extension option, with a hard contract end-date of August 31 2032 for Accenture. The open tender closed in October last year, and covers both the My Health Record system and the ADHA's API gateway infrastructure. Chief technical officer John Borchi said the engagement with Accenture would be different this time, courtesy of a new operating model where the agency led end-to-end service delivery. "The agency sets priorities for national digital health infrastructure, including My Health Record, coordinates delivery across multiple suppliers and, of course, retains accountability for governance, assurance and decision-making," Borchi said. ADHA chief executive Amanda Cattermole said the new contract would support My Health Record at a time of significant and growing use. Cattermole said there are more than 25 million active records, and around 207 million clinician uses in the past 12 months plus around 30 million consumer views each month. "This contract will support those services while providing a foundation for future transformation as the Agency works with governments, healthcare providers and technology partners on the progressive transition to a modernised FHIR [fast healthcare interoperability resources]-based ecosystem," Cattermole said. Telstra Health won a $33.2 million contract to implement a FHIR-based based data architecture for My Health Record. Telstra Health is working with Leidos Australia and Canada's Smile Digital Health, with the data architecture designed to run in parallel with existing clinical document formats. ADHA declined to say how many organisations tendered for the work, or whether any bidder other than Accenture reached the final stage of evaluation, saying the information is commercial-in-confidence and subject to procurement confidentiality obligations.
Applied taps Elizabeth Robertson as EVP of business development. Applied Aerospace & Defense has appointed Elizabeth Robertson as executive vice president of business development. Robertson will lead enterprise growth, new program capture and strategic customer relationships across Space & Launch Systems, Defense Aviation & Airborne Systems, and C5ISR & Precision Strike Systems. "Elizabeth is a proven growth executive with a rare combination of technical depth, end market knowledge, and customer relationships across the entire space and defense technology ecosystem," said Chris Rogers, president and chief strategy officer for Applied. "She has built and delivered new programs from every side of the table, as a NASA engineer, a program leader for next-generation defense technology programs, and a high-impact and deeply trusted senior business development executive. Her experience, unique perspective, and leadership are exactly what this next chapter of Applied's growth demands." Robertson most recently served as vice president of business development for Leidos' Defense Sector Huntsville portfolio. Before that, she served as COO of Interstellar Technologies and senior propulsion manager at Stratolaunch. Robertson started her career as an aerospace engineer at NASA, where she spent over 13 years in various roles, including deputy chief engineer for the Space Shuttle program propulsion and integration team. "Applied combines a deeply differentiated and growing set of engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities with a track record of delivering on the mission-critical work that customers count on most," Robertson said. "I'm looking forward to partnering with the team to bring the full breadth of Applied's platform to new and existing customers across the entire space and defense industrial base." Staff Writer WashingtonExec celebrates the people, programs, and milestones shaping the Washington, D.C. government contracting community. Join 30,000+ leaders who start their day with The Daily. Our latest executive profiles, council news, and GovCon headlines - every morning.
Applied Aerospace & Defense appoints Elizabeth Robertson as executive vice president of business development. Business Wire HUNTSVILLE, Ala., September 01, 2026-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Applied Aerospace & Defense ("Applied"), a premier provider of advanced manufacturing for mission-critical space and defense applications, today announced that industry proven growth executive Elizabeth Robertson, has joined the company as executive vice president of business development. In this role, Elizabeth will lead enterprise growth, new program capture, and strategic customer relationships across three core markets: Space & Launch Systems, Defense Aviation & Airborne Systems, and C5ISR & Precision Strike Systems. Elizabeth joins Applied from Leidos, where she served as vice president of business development for the Leidos Defense Sector Huntsville portfolio. Earlier in her career, she led a major U.S. Army air and missile defense program from development into production. She also previously served as chief operating officer of Interstellar Technologies and senior propulsion manager at Stratolaunch. Elizabeth began her career as an aerospace engineer at NASA, where she spent more than 13 years in various roles, including as deputy chief engineer for the Space Shuttle program propulsion and integration team. Across both the public and private sectors, Elizabeth has built a consistent record of translating deep technical and program experience into new customer relationships and program wins. "Elizabeth is a proven growth executive with a rare combination of technical depth, end market knowledge, and customer relationships across the entire space and defense technology ecosystem," said Chris Rogers, president and chief strategy officer for Applied. "She has built and delivered new programs from every side of the table, as a NASA engineer, a program leader for next-generation defense technology programs, and a high-impact and deeply trusted senior business development executive. Her experience, unique perspective, and leadership are exactly what this next chapter of Applied's growth demands." Commenting on her new role, Elizabeth Robertson said, "Applied combines a deeply differentiated and growing set of engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities with a track record of delivering on the mission-critical work that customers count on most. I'm looking forward to partnering with the team to bring the full breadth of Applied's platform to new and existing customers across the entire space and defense industrial base." About Applied Aerospace & Defense Applied Aerospace & Defense, Inc. ("Applied") is a premier provider of advanced design, engineering, and vertically integrated manufacturing solutions for leading and next-generation space and defense technology companies. Applied builds complex, mission-critical hardware for extreme operating environments across three core markets: Space & Launch Systems, Defense Aviation & Airborne Systems, and C5ISR & Precision Strike Systems. With over 120 years of advanced manufacturing heritage, Applied employs a nationwide infrastructure of 11 purpose-built facilities across six states and more than 1.5 million square feet of production capacity, supported by IP-enabled process expertise for the full lifecycle management of rapid prototyping, large-scale production, and aftermarket sustainment of enduring platforms. Applied Aerospace & Defense is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "AADX." To learn more visit www.applied-ad.com.
Telos to support Air Combat Command cybersecurity modernization under IDIQ contract. by Jamie Bennet August 31, 2026, 11:18 am * Telos has won an Air Force indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to support the Air Combat Command * Work under the contract spans cybersecurity framework modernization and artificial intelligence tool integration * The contract is worth $37.8 million and has a period of performance that runs through Jan. 31, 2031 The U.S. Air Force has awarded Telos a $37.8 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide cybersecurity, risk management and intelligence support to the Air Combat Command, or ACC, the Department of War announced Friday. The Air Force received 30 offers through a competitive bidding process before selecting Telos for the award. What are the details of the Air Combat Command cybersecurity IDIQ? Under the terms of the award, Telos will help ACC modernize its cybersecurity framework, with a particular focus on integrating emerging artificial intelligence tools and capabilities. Work under the contract will take place in San Antonio, Texas, and the period of performance is scheduled to run through Jan. 31, 2031. What is Telos' specialization? Telos Corporation is an Ashburn, Virginia-based cybersecurity and IT risk management company that works to deliver secure, adaptable offerings in cyber governance, risk and compliance, identity, and secure networks. Its work spans cyber GRC through Xacta, identity services, secure networks, and TSA PreCheck enrollment, supporting federal agencies and critical sectors via cybersecurity, cloud and enterprise capabilities. Founded in Santa Monica and incorporated in Maryland in 1971, the company has roots as an early federal systems integrator supplying software for military customers. What other contracts has the Air Combat Command recently awarded? A month before Telos landed the contract award, Air Combat Command's Acquisition Management and Integration Center issued a potential $717 million contract focused on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The AMIC awarded Leidos the five-year contract to continue receiving ISR support, subject matter expertise, intelligence analysis, threat mitigation and training and mission services. The work will benefit the ACC headquarters as well as subordinate numbered air forces, centers and wings in more than 35 domestic and overseas locations.