Director of Manufacturing Operations
Wing · Palo Alto, CA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Wing (industrial) in Palo Alto, CA.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
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 $122k–$177k.
Median of the low and high ends of 37 live postings that list pay, out of 111 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 110 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 31 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ New product launch 37%
- Lean 30%
- Root cause 27%
- Automation 24%
- Python 22%
- Team leadership 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention 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 Wing
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 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 WingAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the Role
Wing is looking for a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead our Manufacturing Operations team, Forward Logistics and Reverse Logistics teams. This role is onsite based in Palo Alto, CA. In this critical leadership position, you will ensure our manufacturing capabilities scale efficiently to meet growing global demand, driving the production of aircraft and ground systems that safely and autonomously deliver packages to communities. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between innovative engineering concepts and reliable, high-volume production, ensuring our hardware ecosystem is built for speed, safety, and operational excellence. Additionally, you will manage manufacturing partners and optimize costs to align with our business objectives.
requirements
for reliability.
- ✓Enforce compliance standards across all facilities, leading audits and training programs.
- ✓Lead the supply chain and logistics teams to manage inventory levels, optimize vendor relations, and ensure timely delivery of products to meet business needs.
- ✓Lead the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies and automated systems to improve production capacity.
qualifications
directly related to professional competence. Wing does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About Wing
Wing offers drone delivery as a safe, fast, and sustainable solution for last mile logistics. Consumer appetites for on-demand services are increasing, but current delivery methods are inefficient, costly, and contribute to road accidents and air pollution. Wing’s fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from businesses to homes on-demand, in minutes. We design, build, and operate our aircraft, and offer drone delivery services on two continents. Our technology is designed to be easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks, offering a scalable drone delivery solution for a broad range of businesses. Wing is a part of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and our mission is to create the preferred means of delivery for the planet. If you're ready to do the greatest work of your life, come join us.
What You’ll Do
- •This role will report into VP of Hardware Development & Manufacturing Operations and partner across Engineering and Business Operations.
- •Develop and execute Wing’s manufacturing strategy to align production capabilities with business goals.
- •Manage Product Operations, Operations Program Management, Process Engineering, Quality, Forward Logistics, Reverse Logistics and Manufacturing Partner Management.
- •Partner with Engineering teams to build product roadmaps and execute plans from Concept and NPI through production and EOL.
- •Drive operational excellence to minimize waste, optimize workflows, improve quality and enhance overall productivity.
- •Oversee the manufacturing operations budget to adhere to financial targets and resource allocations.
- •Establish and maintain rigorous quality assurance protocols to ensure all products meet industry standards and regulatory
What You’ll Need
- •10+ years of experience managing large manufacturing teams, high volume manufacturing and supply chain operations and managing global partners to drive product cost and quality.
- •Bachelor's degree in a Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, other Engineering or non-technical Bachelor’s with relevant Manufacturing Operations experience, or equivalent experience. Masters degree preferred.
- •Experience hiring, developing and managing high performing teams
- •Experience scaling, operationalizing, or commercializing a manufacturing organization
- •International and Domestic travel required
$291,000—$309,000 USD