Director of Manufacturing Operations

Director of Manufacturing Operations | Nox Metals | Detroit, MIAmerican factories deserve a supply chain that moves as fast as they do. The next generation of American manufacturing is being built right now. Nox Metals is the supply chain behind it.Nox Metals is a technology company in Detroit supplying aluminum plate, bar, and rounds to aerospace and defense manufacturers. We use software and automation to supply metal to American factories faster than the industry thought possible.This is one of the most important hires we will ever make. We need a Director of Manufacturing Operations to run the entire factory. Every shift, every machine, every operator, every cut, every shipment. The factory is the company. If it runs, we win. If it does not, nothing else matters.We are looking for someone with the discipline, presence, and bias for action of a military operator. Someone who walks the floor like they own it, runs a tight ship across all four shifts, and makes decisions in the moment without flinching. Nox Metals is an employer with real opportunity for long term career growth, this is a place to build a career, not just hold a job.You will:Own end-to-end manufacturing operations across day, evening, night, and weekend shiftsRun a 24/7 factory with clear standards, clear accountabilityManage all shift leads and operators, set the standard, hold the lineOwn production throughput, on-time delivery, quality, scrap rate, and safety performanceDrive every operational metric that matters and make them visible across the company every dayWalk the floor every single day, you are not a director who lives in an officeRun daily production meetings, shift handoffs, and weekly operational reviewsBuild and enforce SOPs, work instructions, safety protocols, and quality proceduresOwn factory layout, capacity planning, and equipment utilization across every machine and cellPartner with engineering and software to deploy automation, AI tools, and process improvements on the floorOwn DFARS, AMS, ASTM, and customer-specific quality compliance, every cert, every shipmentLead incident response and root cause analysis when something breaks, fix it once and fix it for goodBuild the team, hire shift leads and operators, develop them, hold them accountable, move them upLook at every process, every machine, every minute and figure out how to make it betterWork safely every shift and hold the entire factory to the same standardYou should be:4 to 5+ years running an entire factory or major production operation, this is non-negotiableMilitary, defense manufacturing, aerospace, or high-output industrial leadership background strongly preferredA natural leader with command presence, people follow you because of how you operate, not because of a titleFluent in metals, machining, CNC, sawing, or comparable precision manufacturing environmentsDisciplined, organized, and process-driven, you build systems that run without youBias for action, you make the call in the moment with the information you haveHigh attention to quality, every cut, every cert, every shipment, every safety standardAlways thinking about how to make processes better, you do not accept "this is how we have always done it"Absolutely customer obsessed, every customer commitment runs through your factoryCracked with software and data, you run the factory by the numbers, not by feelCommitted to safety, you follow every protocol, wear your PPE, and never cut corners that put people at riskA team player with a good attitude, you make the company better for everyone around youSomeone who takes ownership, the factory is yours, end to endPrecise under pressure and reliable, the company runs because you show up readyHigh agency, you handle big items alone and ask for help when neededLow ego, you walk the floor, you wear the boots, you do the unglamorous work because it needs to get doneAble to lift up to 50 lbs and operate heavy equipment on your feet for a full shiftNot afraid to work outside normal hours when America demands itNever says "that's not my job"Nice to have:Military service, especially in logistics, ordnance, or operational leadership rolesExperience in metals, aluminum, or aerospace/defense supply chainsLean, Six Sigma, or comparable operational excellence credentialsTrack record of building factory automation or deploying ML or AI on the production floorForklift and/or overhead crane certificationComfortable using AI tools to work faster and smarterThis role is full time, in person in Detroit.