Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Site Manager to lead day-to-day operations at a growing space and defense manufacturer's Seattle-area site, supporting approximately 500 employees. This is a highly visible role with substantial customer interface: the Site Manager will carry P&L-style accountability for the site as an independent cost center and partner closely with Engineering and Program Management to drive execution and growth. This is not a pure production environment — the site is primarily focused on design, analysis, and test work, so the ideal candidate brings both operational rigor and genuine comfort leading engineering-driven, development-stage work.
Responsibilities:
Serve as the on-site day-to-day leader, with P&L-style ownership of the site as an independent cost center. Oversee a design, analysis, and test-heavy operation — bring engineering-ops experience, development-program leadership, and rapid prototyping chops, not just steady-state manufacturing management. Partner with Engineering and Program Management under a functional matrix structure — understand development and new product integration well enough to lead it, not just run production. Carry a heavy customer-facing load, with significant time in design and program reviews (PDRs, CDRs) and proposal activity — expect this to run 25%+ of the week under normal conditions. Review and sign off on a high volume of proposals weekly (program capture itself is handled elsewhere).Grow into broader multi-site oversight over time as the right fit develops — not a day-one expectation, but a real path for the right leader.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science required; Master's degree a plus.15+ years of experience in an aerospace and defense engineering and manufacturing environment.
Proven experience leading program execution and operations within a Space, Missile, Defense, or Hypersonics environment.
Experience managing a P&L or an independent cost-center-level budget.
Comfort operating across engineering, program, and production disciplines — composites, metallics, and electromechanical systems.
Demonstrated success leading in a highly matrixed organization.
Experience with Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, or equivalent operational excellence frameworks.
Solid ERP experience, including integration and implementation.
Strong track record driving and sustaining operational growth.
Heavy compliance and AS9100 quality systems experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in high-temperature composites, propulsion, or ablatives.
Prior exposure to energetics or missile/munitions manufacturing environments.
Active or recent Secret security clearance.
Business development experience alongside operations.
Salary:
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