About Chiral Photonics
Chiral Photonics is a fast-growing photonics manufacturing company enabling next-generation optical connectivity. We specialize in high-precision fiber-optic components and assemblies that support advanced data center, AI, and communications infrastructure. As we scale production, we are building strong operational foundations rooted in standard work, quality, and continuous improvement.
Role Overview
The Production Floor Manager owns the day-to-day execution of manufacturing operations on the production floor. This role is responsible for meeting daily and weekly production goals, ensuring adherence to SOPs and work instructions, maintaining a clean and organized floor, and supporting production teams through hands-on leadership, equipment troubleshooting, and close collaboration with Production Director, Operations, Engineering and R&D teams.
This is a highly visible role critical to scaling output while maintaining Chiral’s high standards for precision, quality, and safety.
Key Responsibilities
Production Execution & Performance
- Lead daily production floor operations, ensuring work is executed according to plan and priorities.
- Own achievement of daily and weekly output targets (e.g., standard orders, batch completion, on-time delivery).
- Track and manage key production metrics such as:
- Units completed per day/week
- WIP levels by process step
- Throughput and cycle time
- Rework and defect trends
- Participate in and lead daily production huddles and weekly planning reviews.
- Ensure every technician has a work order and all parts are ready in advance of their scheduled shift.
- Work closely with Operations Planning Coordinator to review forecasted plans and targets.
Team Management
- Directly manage and support a production team of approximately 10-15 technicians (scaling over time).
- Provide clear daily direction, prioritize work, and rebalance resources as needed to meet goals.
- Coach technicians on standard work, quality expectations, and safe operating practices.
- Support onboarding and training of new production staff in partnership with Operations
- Review timecards for accuracy and completeness
Standard Work, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure strict adherence to SOPs, work instructions, and quality controls across all production activities.
- Enforce discipline around WIP management, including labeling, tracking, storage locations, and FIFO practices.
- Identify deviations from standard work and drive corrective actions.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready production floor (5S mindset).
Equipment & Troubleshooting Support
- Act as first-line support for equipment issues and production interruptions.
- Troubleshoot common equipment and process issues alongside technicians.
- Escalate complex issues appropriately and coordinate with Process Engineering and Operations.
- Help minimize downtime and ensure fast recovery to standard operations.
Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Process Engineering to identify bottlenecks, yield issues, and improvement opportunities.
- Contribute ideas and data to drive process optimization, efficiency gains, and defect reduction.
- Support pilot changes, new process introductions, and scaling initiatives on the production floor.
- Provide structured feedback from operators to operations to be triaged for action with process / engineering / R&D.
Safety & Housekeeping
- Promote and enforce a safe working environment at all times.
- Ensure compliance with safety procedures, PPE requirements, and cleanliness standards.
- Address safety or housekeeping issues immediately and proactively.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience supervising or leading manufacturing operations (precision manufacturing, photonics, optics, electronics, or similar preferred).
- Strong understanding of production workflows, SOP-driven environments, and WIP control.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to work directly on the floor.
- Experience supporting equipment troubleshooting and process adherence.
- Strong communication skills and comfort working cross-functionally with engineering and operations.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in fiber-optic, photonics, semiconductor, medical device, or other high-precision manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience scaling production from low-volume to higher-volume operations.
