Neros Technologies · 3 months ago
Operations Director, APAC
El Segundo, California, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$175K/yr - $250K/yr
10+ years expNeros Technologies is a defense technology company focused on rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. They are seeking a strategic and hands-on Operations Director for the Asia Pacific region to oversee manufacturing, procurement, supply chain coordination, and quality assurance, ensuring operational excellence in a high-standards environment.
DronesIndustrial AutomationMachinery ManufacturingManufacturing
Responsibilities
Develop and execute comprehensive production and procurement strategies aligned with organizational objectives
Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation, and cost management for both production and supply chain operations
Develop and manage the procurement budget, monitoring expenditures and optimizing resources
Ensure production and supply chain activities meet on-time delivery, quality, and cost targets
Identify production partners or green field locations for the establishment of Neros production facilities in the Pacific
Work with regional authorities to ensure that our manufacturing operations are compliant
Help build production operations teams from the ground up with minimal oversight
Utilize data-driven decision-making to refine production workflows and enhance operational excellence
Lead and optimize the end-to-end procurement process, ensuring timely and cost-effective acquisition of materials, equipment, and services
Conduct detailed cost analyses to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements across the supply chain
Manage inventory, lead times, and cost structure to optimize supply chain efficiency and resilience
Stay informed about market trends, emerging technologies, and industry developments to inform procurement strategies
Identify, evaluate, and qualify potential suppliers and vendors, conducting thorough assessments to ensure they meet quality, cost, and delivery standards
Lead contract negotiations with key suppliers to establish beneficial agreements and maintain long-term partnerships, ensuring terms and conditions align with company needs and risk management policies
Oversee vendor relationships and outsourced production activities, ensuring supplier performance aligns with internal standards
Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and new suppliers to foster collaboration, innovation, and effective communication, addressing and resolving any supply-related issues promptly
Implement and refine quality management systems to meet certifications and regulatory requirements common in aerospace, automotive, robotics, or electronics sectors
Ensure all procurement and production activities comply with relevant regulations, internal policies, and ethical standards
Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-caliber team across production and procurement, including managers and frontline staff
Define roles, responsibilities, and KPIs for team members to ensure accountability and transparency in performance expectations
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and teamwork
Lead and manage cross-functional teams spanning manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, finance, and R&D
Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external partners (vendors, procurement, logistics, R&D) to ensure seamless integration of production and supply chain processes
Present production and procurement metrics, progress updates, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership, communicating complex operational information clearly and concisely to influence decision-making
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field; Master's degree or relevant certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM) preferred
Strong experience working with both supply chains and production operations in multiple countries in the Pacific
10+ years of progressive experience in production management and procurement, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
Proven track record in advanced manufacturing environments (e.g., aerospace, automotive, robotics, electronics, or similar high-tech industries), including familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements
Demonstrated success in managing cross-functional teams and outsourced production components
Proven experience in negotiating and managing complex supplier contracts and relationships
Experience with procurement software and data analytics tools
Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and report clearly and credibly to executives
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment and adapt to changing priorities
Strategic mindset paired with hands-on operational experience
Knowledge of industry regulations and ethical procurement standards
Preferred
Master's degree or relevant certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM)
Previous experience reading and interpreting engineering diagrams and documentation
Experience with purchasing electronic components such as PCBs and PCBAs (Highly preferred)
Experience with purchasing custom-fabricated components (various materials)
Fluency in Mandarin, Japanese or Korean
Benefits
Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.
Company
Neros Technologies
Neros Technologies is a defense technology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced unmanned aerial systems.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$119.5MKey Investors
Sequoia CapitalVy Capital
2025-11-10Series B· $75M
2025-03-17Series A· $35M
2024-05-20Seed· $9.5M
Leadership Team
Soren Monroe-Anderson
Co-Founder & CEO
Olaf Hichwa
Co-Founder and CTO
Recent News
alleywatch.com
2025-11-19
Business Wire
2025-11-04
Company data provided by crunchbase