Manufacturing Operations Team Lead

Step into the heartbeat of digital orthodontics Imagine starting your shift with a quick floor walk. You check yesterday’s outputs, scan quality dashboards, and lead a brief huddle with a team of 20–50 highly capable operators. You rebalance staffing to meet the hour-by-hour plan, confirm safety readiness, and align everyone on delivery goals. Throughout the day, you partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Software to clear bottlenecks, standardize the next best method, and keep our 3D-printed, patient-specific orthodontic products flowing with precision. That’s a typical day for our Manufacturing Operations Team Lead at LightForce—where custom, AI-guided treatment planning and a fully digital, 3D-printed platform are redefining what’s possible in orthodontic care. About LightForce LightForce is leading the digital transformation of orthodontics with a fully digital, 3D-printed platform that increases practice efficiency, improves clinical consistency, and enables more predictable treatment outcomes. Unlike stock brackets, LightForce delivers customized, patient-specific brackets paired with AI-driven treatment planning—pushing the boundaries of personalized care at scale. Learn more at www.lf.co What you’ll drive
• Own daily production outcomes on your assigned area to hit output, quality, and delivery targets.
• Keep to the production schedule; flex people and resources to maximize throughput and on-time performance.
• Run crisp shift handovers with clear communication and accurate documentation so teams stay aligned.
• Continuously balance quality, productivity, safety, and team morale—never sacrificing one for another.
• Uphold safety protocols, quality standards, and applicable regulations without compromise.
• Create and enforce standardized work to remove waste and elevate product quality.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S to eliminate inefficiencies and embed continuous improvement.
• Partner cross-functionally (Engineering, Maintenance, Software) to troubleshoot issues and cut downtime.
• Onboard and cross-train team members to build flexible coverage across all processes.
• Set expectations, coach performance, and recognize wins; give timely feedback and corrective guidance when needed.
• Identify and execute waste-reduction and efficiency-improvement initiatives.
• Publish accurate reports on output, inventory, staffing, quality metrics, and other KPIs.
• Be the first escalation point for safety, quality, delivery, and cost concerns in your area.
• Perform in a fast-moving environment, adapting priorities while staying calm, consistent, and professional. Schedule Third and weekend shifts available. Your background
• Experience in manufacturing with at least 1 year in a supervisory or team-lead role.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business management, or related field preferred. What you bring
• Depth in production processes, equipment, and quality control fundamentals.
• A track record of leading, motivating, and developing diverse, multi-shift teams.
• Resourceful problem-solving and sound decision-making; you proactively resolve issues.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate across functions.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S methods.
• Familiarity with health and safety regulations and best practices. Preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or related field.
• Exposure to ISO 13485, ISO 9001, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience in additive manufacturing or startup settings.
• Comfort with tools like QuickSight, Jira, and Notion. Physical demands
• Frequent hand use; reaching with hands and arms.
• Ability to see, listen, and speak clearly.
• Work around production chemicals, adhesives, and epoxies with required PPE.
• Extended periods of walking and standing. Benefits (US)
• Unlimited PTO for exempt employees
• 10 paid holidays annually
• Generous employer premium coverage for medical, dental, and vision
• Group plan voluntary life insurance
• Fringe benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid parental leave
• Allowances for commercial sales roles
• Onsite perks such as food/coffee Legal and compliance To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities. LightForce Orthodontics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, Protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.