Manufacturing Supervisor

RF Production & Test Manufacturing Supervisor (Hands-On Floor Leadership) Palo Alto, CA | $95,000–$120,000 | On-Site | Exempt Lead Production. Understand the Technology. Develop the Team. At Microwave Power Products (MPP), our manufacturing environment combines RF, high voltage, electronics, and specialized test equipment.

We're looking for a manufacturing supervisor who can lead people and production while developing a real understanding of the technical work happening on the floor. This is not a desk-based supervisory role. You'll work closely with experienced technicians and assemblers, help troubleshoot production issues, partner with Engineering and Quality, and keep technically complex work moving safely and on schedule.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Lead daily production activities and prioritize work to support schedule commitments. Supervise, coach, and develop technicians and assemblers. Monitor production progress, identify constraints, and address issues before they affect delivery. Work alongside technical employees to understand and resolve production problems.

Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve technical, quality, material, and workflow issues. Ensure work is performed safely, accurately, and according to established procedures. Drive improvements in workflow, quality, productivity, and schedule adherence. Support training, cross-training, and development of technical employees.

Communicate production status, risks, resource needs, and technical issues to leadership. Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Your Technical Experience Matters We need a supervisor who can understand the technical work, not simply manage around it. Hands-on experience with RF, microwave, electronics test, high-power electronics, instrumentation, or similarly technical equipment is required.

Your background might include: RF or microwave production RF test and measurement High-power RF systems Radar or transmitter systems Aerospace or defense electronics Electronics production test High-voltage electrical systems Other technically demanding electrical/RF production environments We are less concerned with the exact industry or job title than with what you personally did.

You should be able to explain the technical systems you've worked with, including: What equipment or systems you personally operated, tested, or troubleshot What electrical or RF parameters you measured What test equipment and instrumentation you used How you recognized an abnormal operating condition How you approached an RF or electrical troubleshooting problem What you personally changed, adjusted, tested, or repaired to resolve an issue How you determined whether the equipment was operating correctly Experience with equipment such as oscilloscopes, DMMs, RF power meters, spectrum analyzers, high-voltage measurement equipment, power supplies, and specialized test fixtures is valuable.

Experience with high-voltage/high-power RF equipment, tube-based systems, conditioning or burn-in processes, or other energized RF systems is especially relevant. Direct vacuum-electronics experience is a plus, but it is not required if you can demonstrate strong hands-on RF and technical troubleshooting experience.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

(PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS) 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, assembly, production, test, or a related technical environment. 2+ years of experience leading or supervising technical teams. Hands-on experience with RF, microwave, electronics test, high-power electronics, or a related technical discipline. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical issues in a production environment.

Strong understanding of electrical/mechanical assembly and production workflows. Ability to read and follow technical documentation, procedures, drawings, and work instructions. Experience with process improvement, Lean principles, or similar continuous-improvement practices. Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

A hands-on, decisive approach to solving problems and keeping production moving. Ability to develop technical employees while holding the team accountable for production commitments. We are also interested in experienced technical leads who have already been coordinating people, solving production problems, and serving as a technical resource for their team and are ready to take on formal supervisory responsibility.

A Technical Environment With Real Complexity MPP manufactures specialized RF and microwave products used in demanding applications. Our production and test environment includes high-voltage electrical systems, RF power, specialized instrumentation, and technically experienced technicians.You don't need to arrive knowing our specific products or test procedures.

You do need to be comfortable learning technically complex equipment, asking good technical questions, understanding what your team is doing, and getting close enough to the work to help remove obstacles when problems arise. This role is primarily on-site and requires flexibility to work beyond standard business hours when necessary to support high-priority production needs or critical issues.

Why MPP? For over 70 years, MPP has designed and manufactured RF and microwave technologies used in aerospace, defense, medical, and scientific applications. Our products support mission-critical systems where reliability, precision, and performance matter most. Manufacturing leadership is closely connected to the technical work happening on the floor.

You'll work directly with experienced technicians and manufacturing professionals, partner with Engineering and Operations, and have a visible impact on how work gets done. Located in Palo Alto, California, MPP joined Trans. Digm Group (NYSE: TDG) in 2024, providing the stability and resources of a global aerospace organization while maintaining our fast-moving, team-focused culture.

We offer hands-on technical careers, opportunities to grow specialized skills, and the chance to work alongside experienced engineers and technicians building advanced hardware. If you're a manufacturing leader who enjoys being close to the work, solving problems, and developing technically strong people, we'd like to hear from you.

This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR). Access to certain controlled information may be limited to individuals who qualify as “U.S. persons” (generally U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain protected individuals). Non-U.S. persons may still apply; however to be eligible for the role, access to controlled information may require U.

S. government authorization. Applicants must be able to comply with applicable export control requirements. For security clearance position, the candidate must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Security Clearance as required, holding a security clearance is a plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

Annual Salary of $95,000 to $120,000 depending on experience. This is an exempt, salaried leadership position. Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage Generous 401(k) match Commuter benefits and more within the Stanford Research Park Complimentary EV charging Paid time off and holidays Training and opportunities for skill development and growth OUR WORKPLACE COMMITMENT We value the unique and diverse skills, qualities, and backgrounds that each employee brings to MPP, and we respect each employee as an integral member of our growing team.

MPP is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all current and prospective employees, as well as to promoting a culture of inclusion and respect for everyone. We celebrate the innovation that diversity creates in the work environment, and we recognize that each employee brings their own unique capabilities, experiences, and perspectives to the organization.

It is this variety that adds value to our teams, as well as to our stakeholders. We welcome and encourage applicants to reach their full potential with us. MPP is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.