Production Manager

Howmet Aerospace has an opening for a Production Manager which will be based in Houston, Texas. This position will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day manufacturing operations at the Howmet – Houston Operations site, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing while meeting customer quality requirements and delivery commitments.

This role provides leadership and direction to production supervisors, team leaders and production personnel. This role is accountable for maximizing equipment utilization, improving production efficiencies, controlling manufacturing costs, minimizing downtime and scrap, and developing a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily production operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

• Manage production schedules, staffing, and workflow to meet customer commitments.

• Monitor production performance, resolve bottlenecks, and maximize throughput.

• Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.

• Enforce safe operating procedures for extrusion presses, furnaces, and material handling equipment.

• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.

• Ensure titanium extrusions meet customer specifications and quality requirements.

• Maintain process controls, material traceability, and accurate production records.

• Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve nonconformances and reduce scrap and rework.

• Monitor key performance indicators, including productivity, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery.

• Implement process improvements to increase efficiency, improve material yield, and reduce costs.

• Apply Lean Manufacturing and root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues.

• Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and operators.

• Manage staffing, training, shift coverage, and employee performance.

• Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

• Coordinate with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and minimize downtime.

• Ensure preventive maintenance and tooling requirements are addressed.

• Identify equipment and process improvements to increase capacity and reliability.

• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance, to meet production goals.

• Ensure materials, tooling, and resources are available to support schedules.

• Communicate production status, capacity constraints, and delivery risks to management.

• Ability to read and react to verbal and non-verbal communication while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience, with 2+ years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Ability to work on-site in a manufacturing environment and support production requirements.
• This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as an U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee. 
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience managing production schedules, workforce allocation, and manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control, and workplace safety.
• Ability to analyze production data, resolve problems, and improve operational performance.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in titanium extrusion, metal processing, forging, or specialty alloy manufacturing.
• Knowledge of extrusion presses, billet heating, tooling, heat treatment, and downstream processing.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, material traceability, and manufacturing quality systems.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success improving production efficiency, reducing scrap, and increasing on-time delivery.