Production Manager

At 1872 AI, we are transforming industrial manufacturing in the United States by building AI-native factories capable of lights-out production—from CAD to finished part with minimal human input. Our initial focus targets the energy and infrastructure sectors—power generation, grid infrastructure, and compute facilities—where critical supply chain bottlenecks in steel fabrication are limiting growth.

About the Role

You'll run day-to-day production at our first factory in Cincinnati, the plant where we're proving out how an AI-native steel fabrication shop should run. Reporting directly to our Head of Operations, you'll lead both first and second shift through a strong Fabrication Lead on each, turning the plan into safe, on-time, right-the-first-time skids and frames for energy and datacenter customers. Our floor runs on software: work orders, instructions, and time tracking live in our own factory system, AI agents help plan and report, and robotic weld cells from cutting-edge robotics OEMs set the pace. Your job is to make that system work on the floor every shift, then make it better.

• Primary Interfaces: Head of Operations, Fabrication Leads (1st and 2nd shift), Manufacturing Engineers, Robotic Fabrication Techs, robotics OEM partners, our software and automation team, and suppliers and service partners
• Key Metrics: Safety, customer quality, first-pass yield, on-time delivery, robotic cell utilization, throughput, and labor hours per part
• Key Systems/Tools: Our in-house factory software (work orders, routings, and time tracking), AI tools and agents, robotic and manual welding, cutting and material handling equipment (cranes and forklifts), and inspection and measuring tools

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Through Your Leads: Run the daily standup and the handoff between shifts with both Fabrication Leads. Set clear priorities, hold the standard, and develop your leads rather than doing their jobs.
• Plan and Deliver: Own the daily and weekly production plan and on-time delivery against customer commitments. Make sure each shift starts with ready, kitted work. Call schedule risks early, with facts and a proposed fix.
• Keep the Robot Fed: Pace the floor to our robotic weld cell, keeping it loaded and turning parts quickly so the cell, not staffing or material, sets our throughput.
• Quality and Inspection: Make sure work instructions, weld procedures, and inspection steps are followed and recorded on every shift. Stop the line when something's wrong, contain problems fast, and drive root cause and corrective action with engineering.
• Safety and EHS: Set the safety culture on both shifts, from shift-start talks, PPE, hot work, and housekeeping to safe crane and forklift use. Own our safety programs, training, and incident follow-up.
• Hiring and Training: Own hiring decisions for the production team. Onboard, train, and qualify technicians, and staff both shifts as we grow.
• Maintenance and Facilities: Keep equipment and the building ready to run. Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and service vendors, and give floor input on new equipment.
• Labor Cost and Unit Economics: Own an operating budget and the labor hours and cost per part. Use the data to decide where to improve, what to automate, and what to make versus buy.
• Make the Data Real: Keep the factory system an accurate picture of the floor: work orders, step completions, and time tracking. Trust the data and challenge it.
• Write It Down: Turn how we run into standard work, checklists, and procedures. What you build here becomes the template for every 1872 factory after it.
• Partner With Engineering: Work hand-in-hand with our manufacturing engineers. They design how a part should be built (process, weld procedures, fixtures, work instructions, and robot programs), and you make it happen on the floor, every shift, safely and on time. You also bring back what isn't working so we fix it at the source.

Schedule

This role works a mid-shift that bridges first and second shift, with the flexibility to come in early or stay late when the floor needs it.

Base Qualifications

• Experience leading a manufacturing operation, whether you supervise a production team today or have run a shop or plant, with results you can point to in safety, quality, and on-time delivery
• Experience leading through leads or supervisors, or across more than one shift, helping people grow while holding a high standard
• A track record of planning production around customer commitments and getting to the root of problems that keep coming back
• Very comfortable with computers and technology. You pick up new software quickly and like finding better ways to work, since you'll use our factory software, spreadsheets, and AI tools every day.
• Interest in how AI and automation can help a shop run better, and openness to trying new tools with your team
• A clear communicator in writing and in person, whether you're talking with technicians, engineers, customers, or suppliers
• At home on the shop floor, around heavy equipment and shifting priorities. This is a hands-on role, not a desk job.

We consider equivalent experience. If you meet most of the requirements, apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current shop manager, plant manager, or operations leader
• Experience in steel or structural fabrication, heavy weldments, or other metal fabrication
• Experience with robotic, automated, or advanced fabrication, especially welding cells
• Hands-on experience with weld quality and inspection (e.g., working to AWS D1.1)
• A quality mindset built in an ISO 9001, AS9100, or similarly quality-managed shop, where documented processes, traceability, and corrective action are part of everyday work
• Experience running workplace safety programs, including OSHA compliance, training, and incident investigation
• Experience managing maintenance, facilities, or a production budget
• Experience starting up a second shift, a new line, or a new facility, or working in a startup or ramp-up environment

Why Join

• What you'll build: The operating playbook for an AI-native factory, with the standard work, rhythms, and team that future 1872 plants will copy
• Impact: You run the floor that turns our software and robotics into real parts for the power grid and datacenters, helping rebuild American manufacturing
• Ownership: Real authority from day one over your team, your budget, and how the floor runs
• Team: Work alongside SpaceX-alumni founders and engineers who spend their days on the floor, and use the latest tools with a team that wants to continuously improve

How to Apply

Include your resume or LinkedIn and a short description of a time you turned around a floor, a shift, or a line: what was broken, what you changed, and what happened to safety, quality, and on-time delivery.

This role is based on-site in Cincinnati, OH and is not open to remote work.

1872 AI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. To request a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact recruiting@1872.ai.

This position may be subject to a background check in accordance with applicable law. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration.