Lead Production Manager
Armory
Job Description
Requirements
About this role
You will be responsible for leading end-to-end production for Armory’s defence hardware systems. From setting up new manufacturing lines to scaling them for consistent, high-quality output. You will be building production from zero, refining processes, and ensuring every unit meets defence-grade precision.
- Set up a new manufacturing facility and optimise existing assembly lines.
- Develop production schedules balancing throughput, quality, and delivery timelines.
- Build and lead production teams, from operators to line engineers, with a focus on technical rigor and accountability.
- Implement lean manufacturing practices, drive cost controls, and eliminate inefficiencies.
- Ensure end-to-end compliance with defence production and operational safety standards.
- Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, and QA to translate design intent into reliable manufacturing outcomes.
- Track KPIs, monitor yield and downtime, and proactively fix bottlenecks.
- Manage vendor partnerships, fabrication dependencies, and production budgets.
- 7–10 years of experience in hardware or electronics manufacturing, preferably in defence, aerospace, or industrial hardware.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing workflows, mechanical/electronic assembly, and QA systems.
- Hands-on approach to process optimization, with comfort working in high-stakes environments.
- Strong leadership and mentoring experience across production teams.
- Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and planning skills.
- Experience in defence, aerospace, or mission-critical hardware production.
- Experience in setting up or scaling a production unit/process from scratch.
- Exposure to electromechanical system integration or RF/mechanical subassemblies.
- Familiarity with ISO/AS9100, DRDO, or DGQA compliance frameworks.
- A track record of scaling manufacturing capacity without compromising quality.
- Strong vendor management and cross-functional coordination experience.
- Building structured processes out of ambiguity.
- Balancing cost, quality, and speed.
- Getting Sh*t done.
- A live project: You will have immediate visibility.
- Access to resources: You name it, we will do everything to get it for you.
- Supportive team: You will be surrounded by the best minds ready to help you.
We target to close the hiring process within 14 days of your application.
Duration: 1 hour
How to ace: Be yourself. We want to know YOU, not some ideal, unrealistic person. Demonstrate your expertise in the area we are evaluating. Ask good questions.
Duration: 1 hour
How to ace: Show strong technical judgment and a clear, practical approach to building and running reliable defence-grade production.
Round 3: Culture Fitment
Duration: 1 hour
How to ace: Help us understand your goals & aspirations. Share some of the stories that have made you what you are. Ask good questions.
Congratulations! You are now a part of Armory. You will build something that lets you sleep at night with a feeling that you did something meaningful. Buckle up for a ride into the future.
Armory highly values having employees working in the office. We are establishing a collaborative work environment and company culture, and that simply does not happen from home. We are based out of Gurgaon and require employees to be in the office.
Benefits
What we expect from you
- Genuine curiosity
- Founder’s mindset
- First principles thinking
- Execution, not just ideas
- Bias for action
- High energy
- High agency
- Highest level of integrity
- Getting your hands dirty
- Audacious state of mind
- Team of A players
- Work directly with the founder
- Ridiculous levels of responsibility
- Fast & decisive approach
- Work on hard problems
30 Days
- Complete onboarding and gain a deep understanding of Armory’s mission, values, and operating culture.
- Familiarise yourself with our current hardware products, manufacturing workflows, and supply chain partners.
- Conduct a full audit of the existing production setup - processes, tools, vendor relationships, and quality controls.
- Review engineering drawings, BoMs, and test procedures to align with production readiness requirements.
- Set up and drive the production roadmap required to meet delivery commitments for the next 12 months.
60 Days
- Recruit and mentor line engineers or technicians where required, setting performance and safety benchmarks.
- Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all active production lines.
- Collaborate closely with R&D, Mechanical, and QA teams to translate design documentation into manufacturable processes.
- Set up metrics and dashboards to track yield, downtime, throughput, and defect rates.
- Implement lean manufacturing practices and optimize resource allocation for daily operations.
- Evaluate vendor performance, initiate cost optimization measures, and strengthen procurement handshakes.
90 Days
- Lead the setup or expansion of a manufacturing unit—ensuring readiness for full-scale production.
- Drive end-to-end execution of a pilot batch, from component sourcing to quality testing and field-readiness validation.
- Build a structured feedback loop with R&D and QA for design-for-manufacturability (DFM) improvements.
- Implement process documentation, traceability systems, and compliance checklists aligned with defence manufacturing standards.
- Present a comprehensive roadmap for scaling production capacity, cost efficiency, and quality assurance for the next two quarters.
- Define your long-term goals and growth plan at Armory, aligning with leadership on how production can evolve as we scale.
Irrespective of whether you apply to Armory or not, some of the following tips will definitely help you in your job search.
- If your cover letter starts with _“Honestly, I possess all the skills and experience that you’re looking for”_, then you are not going to make it.
- In fact, we wrote a long thread on all the ways you will NOT get hired. https://x.com/singhamardeep/status/1459114743398998018?s=46 We highly recommend you to read it.