OUR COMPANY

Qualified Production and Development is a 100-team member manufacturing company at a pivotal moment in our evolution. We provide custom machining and manufacturing services, serving the semi-conductor, life science and other industries. Headquartered in on the westside of the Portland, Oregon metro area, our Hillsboro location provides contract manufacturing services for prototyping, machining and assembly with cleanroom capabilities. Our Cornelius facility provides precision sheet metal manufacturing, rounding out our ability to provide best in class integration services to our customer base.

THE PRODUCTION MANAGER OPPORTUNITY

After 15+ years of solid manufacturing leadership that built our reputation for excellence, we're seeking a transformational Production Manager to architect our next chapter. This is not a maintenance role—it's a chance to modernize a well-established operation while honoring the craftsmanship that defines us.

You'll inherit a talented team of long-tenured professionals in our 35,000 square foot facility, where we execute some of the most challenging precision machining work in the industry. Your mission: bridge the gap between traditional manufacturing excellence and Industry 4.0, creating systems that preserve our quality while dramatically improving efficiency, visibility, and scalability.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

This position is a unique opportunity to be a part of the management team positioning QPD for the future of competitive contract manufacturing industries such as semiconductor, life sciences and others requiring a precision, high quality and dependable business partner.

Strategic Leadership

• Drive Manufacturing Evolution: Continue transforming our production capabilities from Manufacturing 1.0 to data-driven, efficient, modern operations
• Build Performance Culture: Implement comprehensive KPI frameworks that make performance visible, measurable, and improvable at every level
• Lead Change Management: Guide an experienced but change-cautious workforce through operational modernization with patience, respect, and clear communication

Operational Excellence

• Oversee Complex Production: Manage all aspects of production across precision machining and complex assembly operations, as well as intra-company sheet metal production and integration
• Ensure Quality Standards: Maintain and enhance our reputation for executing extremely difficult machining and assembly projects that others can't handle
• Optimize Workflow: Improve production flows and eliminate bottlenecks while respecting existing tribal knowledge

People Leadership

• Team Development: Conduct meaningful performance reviews, assist in onboarding new production hires, identify skill gaps, and create development paths for a multi-generational workforce
• Communication Hub: Serve as the vital link between shop floor realities and executive vision, translating strategy into actionable daily priorities
• Culture Builder: Foster accountability and continuous improvement while acknowledging the valuable experience of long-tenured team members
• Build Training Infrastructure: Work with HR to design and implement comprehensive training programs for new hires, cross-training initiatives, and upskilling existing staff on new technologies and methodologies

Customer & Quality Focus

• Industry Standards: Ensure compliance with stringent requirements from semiconductor, electron microscopy, and defense sectors, as well as customer specific requirements
• Customer Partnership: Collaborate with sales, planning and scheduling, and engineering to ensure production and NPI capabilities align with customer needs and market opportunities

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

Background

• 10+ years in production management within precision manufacturing environments
• Proven track record of modernizing traditional manufacturing operations
• Deep expertise in complex CNC machining and assembly environments
• Experience managing 50+ person teams in job shop or contract manufacturing settings
• Demonstrated success strengthening ERP, MES, or similar manufacturing systems
• Background serving semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and/or similar high-precision industries
• ITAR compliance experience preferred, including managing controlled technical data, export controls, and maintaining secure production environments for defense contracts

Technical Competencies

• Expert-level understanding of precision machining processes and tolerances
• Proficiency with manufacturing KPIs, OEE, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality management systems
• Strong understanding of capacity planning, scheduling, and resource optimization
• Familiarity with modern manufacturing technologies (IoT, predictive maintenance, automation)

Leadership Qualities

• Change Agent with Emotional Intelligence: Ability to drive change while respecting institutional knowledge and managing resistance constructively
• Data-Driven Decision Maker: Comfortable making decisions based on metrics while understanding the human elements behind the numbers; proven ability to drive data discipline at the operator level, ensuring accurate job clocking, time tracking, and production data entry becomes part of daily culture
• Exceptional Communicator: Ability to speak the language of both the shop floor and the boardroom
• Patient Modernizer: Understanding that transformation in established organizations requires persistence, diplomacy, and strategic patience
• Results-Oriented: Track record of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and on-time delivery.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation commiserate with experience
• Medical Coverage
• Dental Insurance
• Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Term Life and AD&D insurance for spouse and/or children
• Paid Leave Oregon coverage
• 401(k) with company Safe Harbor contributions
• Generous PTO schedule including paid Vacation, Sick, Holidays and more

This is a crucial position for our management team, and the person filling it will be highly valued. We look forward to receiving your resume today!

QPD is committed to providing equal opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, political affiliation, union membership, marital status, national origin, covered veteran status, current or future military status, physical or mental disability, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information or other characteristics protected by law.

​We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodation for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential functions, and/or receive benefits or privileges of employment with QPD, please contact Human Resources at 503-681-3093 or inquire with Human Resources in person at our front office.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• What is your preferred salary range for this position?

Experience:

• precision machining mangement: 10 years (Preferred)
• managing large teams: 5 years (Preferred)
• semiconductor or other precision industry: 10 years (Preferred)
• ISO 9001 or AS9100: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person