Production Manager

About the Position

We’re Hiring: Production Manager

Dragonfly Aerospace is seeking a Production Manager to join our team in Stellenbosch.

In this role, you will play a key part in satellite manufacturing operations, aligning engineering, procurement, and production to deliver high-precision products.

Plan, direct, and coordinate the work activities and resources required to manufacture highly specialized satellite equipment and products. This role ensures that manufacturing aligns strictly with cost, quality, and quantity specifications. Acting as a vital bridge between engineering, procurement, and the production floor, this position requires absolute precision, data integrity, and cross-functional coordination. You will oversee the end-to-end production lifecycle, track inventory requirements, maintain ERP data hygiene, and optimize operational workflows.

Responsibilities

Production Planning & Operational Execution

• Review processing schedules or production orders to determine and execute staffing requirements, duty assignments, and work procedures.
• Oversee Manufacturing Orders (MOs) as defined by the Project Manager, ensuring all required components are accounted for based on production priorities.
• Review operations and confer with technical or administrative staff to resolve production bottlenecks and develop new processes.
• Supplier Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with niche vendors, ensuring quality standards and lead times are met.

Procurement, Supply Chain & Inventory Control

• Initiate, coordinate, and monitor inventory and cost control programs.
• Manage precision planning to procure and allocate materials according to production project needs, balancing lead times without bloating inventory costs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with niche vendors and suppliers.
• Account for long or unpredictable lead times of specialized, low-volume parts to ensure assembly floors never halt.

ERP Data Management & Financial Oversight

• Audit and update system data to ensure production schedules accurately reflect real-time material availability and lead times.
• Identify gaps in the ERP workflow and implement cleaner data practices to streamline operations.
• Assist with detailed product costing models.

Quality Control, Health & Safety

• Develop, implement, or enforce production tracking and quality control systems.
• Conduct audits and maintain records to ensure strict compliance with OHSE regulations and the QMS.

Requirements

Core Skills

• ERP: Aptitude for ERP systems with a knack for maintaining data hygiene.
• Analytical & Detail-Driven: Focused on detail and happy to also complete low-level administrative tasks with high precision.
• Technical Literacy: Ability to understand technical component descriptions and collaborate effectively with engineering and production teams.
• Quality Control: Develop, implement, or enforce production tracking and quality control systems.
• Inventory Control: Manage precision planning to procure and allocate materials according to production project needs.

Secondary Skills

• Collaboration: Can work across teams to understand and identify potential problems in readiness for production.
• Self-Starter: Comfortable working independently in a low-volume environment where you must self-manage your daily workload.
• Multiskilled: Proven experience in a diverse role involving procurement, inventory control, and data management (ideally in a custom manufacturing or high-tech environment).

Education/ Qualification Requirements

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a relevant Production Environment
• Relevant Diploma
• A degree in Industrial Engineering will be beneficial
• English Essential
• Afrikaans (Added Advantage)

Location

The Production Manager will be based in Dragonfly’s Stellenbosch office outside Cape Town.

Apply Now

If you’re organized, detail-focused, and ready to contribute to keeping our procurement and logistics processes running smoothly, we’d love to hear from you! Send your CV to [email protected] and join a team that’s shaping the future of Earth observation.

About the Company

Dragonfly Aerospace is at the forefront of satellite manufacturing, specializing in high-precision products for Earth observation. Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology and ensuring the highest standards of quality and innovation.