Overview of Role

ZwitterCo is seeking a proactive and technically skilled and hands-on Manufacturing Technologist to support day-to-day manufacturing operations while driving process consistency, equipment ownership, and continuous improvement.

This role is primarily focused on operating and optimizing key manufacturing processes, as well as ensuring process control, supporting quality outcomes, and troubleshooting issues on the floor. The Manufacturing Technologist serves as a process owner during production, helping to ensure equipment is running reliably and consistently across shifts.

The ideal candidate is a strong operator who can run equipment independently, identify issues early, and help standardize processes. Is comfortable working cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance, and take pride in owning both the performance and consistency of the process, not just executing the work.

About ZwitterCo

ZwitterCo has developed a breakthrough in materials science - a new class of zwitterionic membranes with unprecedented fouling resistance. Our membrane solutions perform beyond the limits of traditional filtration, making it practical to treat complex wastewater, purify water for reuse, and maximize efficiency in food processing applications.

ZwitterCo serves customers in more than 20 countries across food and beverage, agricultural, and industrial sectors. We are rapidly investing in our technology, equipment, and global services platform to help our industrial customers achieve their most ambitious sustainability and growth targets.

We are grateful to have been named as Fast Company's Top Innovators of 2024 and featured on the 2025 & 2026 Global Cleantech 100.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Manufacturing Ownership

Serve as the primary point of contact for all contract manufacturers and key external suppliers

Lead supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activities

Define and manage manufacturing scope, responsibilities, and expectations with partners

Build strong, collaborative relationships while holding suppliers accountable to performance targets

Production Planning & Execution

Coordinate production plans with contract manufacturers to meet demand, schedule, and cost requirements

Monitor build progress, material readiness, capacity, and delivery commitments

Identify risks and constraints early and drive mitigation plans

Support production ramp-ups, transfers, and scale-up activities

Quality & Compliance Management

Ensure external manufacturing processes meet internal quality standards and customer requirements

Support development and enforcement of quality agreements, control plans, and inspection requirements

Partner with Quality and Engineering on nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPAs

Support audits, supplier assessments, and corrective action follow-up

Cost, Yield & Performance Management

Own supplier cost structures, quotations, and ongoing cost improvement initiatives

Track and analyze key supplier KPIs (on-time delivery, yield, scrap, escapes, cost)

Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, throughput, and reliability

Support make/buy and cost-reduction decision-making

Engineering & NPI Support

Partner with R&D, Engineering and Supply Chain to support new product introduction (NPI) at external manufacturers

Ensure design intent, specifications, and manufacturing requirements are clearly transferred

Support process development, validation, and production readiness

Manage engineering changes and configuration control at supplier sites

Process & Systems Development

Help build scalable external manufacturing processes

Define standard workflows for forecasting, material readiness, build releases, and supplier communication

Support ERP/MRP integration and data accuracy related to external manufacturing

Document best practices and lessons learned

Critical Success Factors:

Experience supporting scale-ups, or fast-growth organizations

Experience with production ramp-ups, transfers, or supplier transitions

Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production operations

Strong operational and execution focus with a sense of urgency

Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Ability to balance collaboration with accountability

Flexibility to travel to supplier sites as needed

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Management, or related field with 10+ years of experience

7-10+ years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or operations roles

3+ years of direct experience managing contract manufacturers or outsourced production

Experience with supplier qualification, quality systems, and external audits

Expertise in bill of materials, routing processes, lead time determination, and capacity planning

Highly proficient in utilizing ERP/MRP systems and managing supply chain data

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in hardware, industrial, or manufacturing-heavy startups

Background in regulated or quality-critical industries (a plus)

Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience

Schedule, Travel, Compensation, and Location

This is a full-time position in Woburn, MA and can be remote if in Pacific Time Zone.

Travel for this role can be up to 50%, depending on location.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and include equity and benefits.

This position reports to the VP of Operations.

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External Manufacturing Manager