Senior Contract Manufacturing Manager

About The Role

The incumbent is the strategic owner of the Contract Manufacturer (CM) production relationship. You will manage the CM as an extension of Doodle Labs operations — ensuring that production output, delivery performance, yield, and communication standards consistently meet expectations.

You are the single operational point of accountability for CM production execution. While Engineering drives technical improvements and Supply Chain owns planning/ buying, you ensure both sides are aligned and the CM reliably delivers the right products, on time, and at the right quality.

This is a leadership role that blends operational rigor, relationship management, and production oversight in a fast-scaling deep-tech environment.

As part of future scaling, there may also be opportunities to support the onboarding of additional CMs and / or the setup of new production lines.

What You'll Do

• Act as the Strategic Owner of CM Production Output
  
  

Within the first 60–90 days, take full ownership of build execution at the CM — ensuring weekly and monthly output consistently meets commitments. Proactively identify risks to production and coordinate mitigations across Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

• Lead CM Relationship & Performance Management
  
  

Establish yourself as the primary operational interface with the CM. Drive recurring reviews, set expectations, and ensure adherence to Doodle Labs delivery, quality, and communication standards. Escalate issues early and coordinate resolutions effectively.

• Ensure On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) Delivery Against the Production Plan
  
  

Work cross-functionally with Planning/Buying and the CM to align build readiness. Monitor WIP, track progress, and address constraints before they affect output. Maintain a clear and accurate view of build status at all times.

• Support Yield Improvement & Quality Stability
  
  

Partner closely with MQE and Engineering to identify recurring defects, yield loss patterns, or process gaps at the CM. Provide operational visibility, track improvement actions, and support Engineering-led changes without owning the technical solutions.

• Maintain and Improve Data Accuracy (ERP, Reporting, Production Metrics)
  
  

Ensure that production output, material movement, and build reporting are accurate and timely. Enforce SOP compliance and improve data flow between CM and internal teams.

• Strengthen Cross-Functional Alignment for Build Success
  
  

Serve as the stability point between Engineering, R&D, Quality, Planning, and the CM. Ensure clear communication around ECOs, build priorities, timelines, and risks. Facilitate faster issue resolution through structured updates and visibility.

• Identify Opportunities for Production Process Improvements
  
  

Through ongoing observation at the CM and internally, propose operational improvements to streamline communication, reporting, material flow, or build readiness. Support Engineering-driven process or yield improvements as needed.

• Future Growth Opportunities: Support Expansion to New CMs or Production Lines
  
  

As Doodle Labs expands manufacturing scale and geographic resilience, there may be opportunities to:

• Support evaluations and capability assessments of potential new CMs.
• Assist with planning and coordination of new production line setups, pilot builds, or validation runs.
• Provide operational oversight during new CM onboarding to ensure alignment with Doodle Labs standards.
  
  

What Success Looks Like

• CM consistently achieving on-time, in-full delivery of builds
• Predictable, reliable production output with fewer escalations
• Strong, trust-based CM relationship with clear expectations and accountability
• Yield issues surfaced early with strong cross-functional collaboration
• Increased accuracy of production data and reporting
• A more stable, transparent, and proactive production environment
  
  

Who You'll Work With

• Senior Operations Director
• Supply Chain Planning & Buying (for material readiness)
• MQE / Engineering / R&D (for technical and yield issues)
• CM production, quality, planning, and supervisory teams
  
  

Required

Skills & Experience We're Looking For

• Minimum 10 years in manufacturing operations, production program management, or CM management in electronics or technological devices environments
• Strong experience managing contract manufacturers or external factories
• Solid understanding of production processes, BOM structure, WIP flow, and build readiness
• Ability to lead performance reviews and create accountability across external partners
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Demonstrated team leadership capability (direct or indirect)
• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and operationally rigorous
• Proficient in ERP systems and production data (WIP, output, inventory)
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in RF, wireless hardware, or robotics manufacturing
• Knowledge of yield analysis, quality metrics, and root-cause investigation
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or similar improvement frameworks
• Experience scaling production in fast-growth hardware companies
• Prior experience establishing or qualifying new CMs, including capability assessments, onboarding, or production transfers
• Exposure to setting up new production lines, including pilot builds, readiness audits, or line validation an advantage
  
  

Why You'll Love Working at Doodle Labs

• High visibility, high ownership over CM strategy and manufacturing reliability
• Deep-tech exposure working with advanced communications hardware powering next-gen robotics systems
• Career trajectory toward broader Operations leadership roles
• Collaborative culture built on transparency, direct communication, and a builder's mindset