Production Operations Manager

Title: Production Operations Manager Full-time, onsite, (Sacramento, CA) Compensation: The expected base salary range for this role is $150,000 – $175,000 per year, depending on experience and skills. About Sparkz Sparkz is rebuilding one of the most critical foundations of modern civilization: Energy Storage. We are creating a fully US domestic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery ecosystem spanning materials, cells, and battery energy storage systems to power AI data centers, grid-scale energy storage, defense applications, and industrial infrastructure. At a time when much of the battery energy storage industry is overbuilt and underperforming, Sparkz is scaling into real demand with real production. We are engineers, operators, and builders working at the intersection of energy, manufacturing, and national resilience. What We are Seeking: We are looking for a detail-oriented, hands-on, and skilled Production Operations Manager with 8-10 years of assembly line production experience or related production experience from automotive, semiconductor, or other high-volume production industries. An ideal candidate will also have experience with metal fabrication (machining, welding, bending, finishing). As the Production Manager, you will develop workflows, oversee our manufacturing operations, and ensure that production goals are met efficiently, safely, and within budget. We are looking for a proactive leader with deep knowledge of production procedures, lean manufacturing principles, and the ability to motivate teams to maximize performance. You will work alongside a team of engineers to develop DFx into our products and lead the effort to set up our production facility. What you will enable at Sparkz:

• Production Planning & Execution: Plan, organize, and control manufacturing processes to meet production targets, deadlines, and quality standards.

• Workflow Optimization: Monitor and analyze production data (KPIs) to identify bottlenecks, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency.

• Equipment & Maintenance: Coordinate with the maintenance team to ensure equipment is functioning optimally and schedule preventative maintenance to minimize downtime.

• Budget & Cost Control: Manage production budgets for labor, raw materials, and maintenance costs, to maximize profitability.

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and continuous improvement in battery technologies and integrate battery solutions. Liaise with purchasing, engineering, logistics, and sales departments to ensure seamless production, inventory, and supply chain management.

• Lean Manufacturing Principals: Needs working knowledge of 5S, Kaizen, TQM, Kanban, and Poka-Yoke techniques. What is Your Background:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Production Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

• Proven experience in production lines or other high-volume production sectors such as automotive, semiconductor or electromechanical assemblies.

• Strong leadership and project management skills.

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

• Experience in R&D and product development processes. Working Conditions:

• Manufacturing plant environment, including chemical and powder handling.

• Use of PPE is required in certain areas of the plant. About Sparkz Team Sparkz’s team is lean, high-ownership, and execution-driven. We move quickly, collaborate across departments, and care deeply about outcomes. Manufacturing works hand-in-hand with engineering, operations, and leadership to ensure a quality production system remains on schedule and within budget. Our Operating Principles

• First Principles Over Playbooks – We question assumptions and build what’s needed.

• Ownership Is the Job – We own results, not just effort.

• Speed with Judgment – Move fast, learn faster, adjust constantly.

• Strong Opinions, Loosely Held – Clarity matters, ego doesn’t.

• Mission Matters – Building a domestic energy infrastructure isn’t easy, but it’s worth doing right.

Equal Opportunity Employment Sparkz is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation Sparkz is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in the hiring process. If you require an accommodation to apply or interview for this role, please notify us.

Employment Eligibility & Disclaimer Employment with Sparkz is at will and contingent upon authorization to work in the United States. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment and may be modified at any time based on business needs.

• All job offers are subject to pre-employment drug screening and a background check since this is a safety sensitive position.
• Unless otherwise noted, we do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position. Email resume and cover letter to [email protected] to apply for this role. Notice to Agencies: We only accept resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing services if a Service Agreement has been signed and we have requested recruitment/staffing services for the specific position. Any unsolicited resumes will become the property of the company, and no fees or compensation will be paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or staffing service.