Director of Operations
AMETEK · Irvine, CA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 10 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at AMETEK (industrial) in Irvine, CA. DFM (Design for Manufacture).
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, TPM
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $125k–$177k.
Median of the low and high ends of 45 live postings that list pay, out of 121 production engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 120 other live production postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $120k–$174k, from 36 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- New product launch 38%
- ✓ Lean 31%
- Root cause 27%
- Automation 26%
- Team leadership 22%
- Python 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for TPM, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at AMETEK
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- 2
Send a short, curious note
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- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from AMETEKAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
and budgets to support customer
requirements
- ✓Create and implement the lean roadmap for the businesses to bring operations to the next level of world class lean adoption
- ✓Maintain and control quality, quantity, cost, timeliness and applicability of all materials
- ✓Manage and control expenses in accordance with approved budget
- ✓Meet or exceed measured objectives in sales, profit, turn-around time, employee/facility effectiveness and employee safety
- ✓Participate in the development and implementation of the TMS business strategy and demonstrate a readiness to support business objectives
- ✓Participate in sales activities by setting pricing and determining customer demands through data analysis exercises
- ✓Ensure
requirements
of the customer are met, optimizing product value, reducing costs and ensuring on-time delivery
- ✓Drive and support the overall continuous improvement initiatives within the facility; establishing metrics, measurements and tools to improve efficiency, effectiveness and communication
- ✓Give feedback to leadership on talent needs and organizational capabilities needed to achieve higher levels of production improvement
- ✓People management from hiring and staffing through progressive discipline
- ✓Development and cross-training of technical staff and support groups
- ✓Coordinate and present performance reports to customers
- ✓Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and to reduce costs. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
The Director of Operations will be responsible for the leadership, guidance and direction of the FMH Operations & Supply Chain Teams. The position requires planning, directing and coordinating the execution of production at a strategic level in manufacturing. Will also be responsible for managing daily operational activities and driving accountability within the business. The Director of Operations will determine the needs and analyze areas of operations that require continuous improvement activities. They are responsible for building and executing the plans to increase capacity, control costs, and grow the business.
How You Will Do It
- •Ensure that the organization is structured and has the talent, resources and organizational capability to meet customer quality and technical expectations and desired customer turn-around times
- •Establish strategies, objectives, capital requirements, material and labor
What We Look For
- •Proven record of success as a "hands on" operations management leader with at least 8-10 years of related experience
- •Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, other technical discipline or business-related field is required.
- •Production/manufacturing management in low volume / high mix (Engineered) product environment preferably in the metal forming aerospace industries
- •Strong analytical thinking, problem solving skills and communications skills (both written and oral) with attention to detail
- •Extensive knowledge and experience in successfully implementing and leading world class lean operations. Prior work experience in working at organizations recognized as lean leading companies is a plus
- •Proven ability to successfully handle multiple projects and meet critical deadlines
- •Must be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to relationship-building, both internally and externally
- •Must be self-directed and can work well under pressure, multi-task, and meet deadlines
- •Strong leadership, project management and organizational skills
- •From an operations perspective, exposure to continuous improvement best practices, including but not limited to
- •TPM (Total Preventative Maintenance)
- •6 Sigma
- •SIOP
- •LDMS (Lean Daily Management System)
- •DFM (Design for Manufacture)
- •Strong customer relations skills
What’s In It For You
- •Competitive Compensation & Holiday Pay
- •Great Health Benefits, and 401(k) plans
- •Paid Time Off per year depending on level
- •Less red tape – we have an environment that supports the entrepreneurial spirit
- •Fun & Professional culture while also providing work/life balance for our employees
- •Fast growth opportunities and quicker career development for the right candidate
- •Mentors to help you grow both personally and professionally