Operations Manager – Smart Meter Manufacturing

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our smart meter manufacturing facility in JAFZA, Dubai. This factory‑focused leadership role requires strong hands‑on manufacturing expertise and responsibility for production planning, SMT/PCBA, assembly, testing, quality, manpower, and overall factory efficiency.

Key responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for daily factory operations and smart meter production performance.
• Manage the complete manufacturing process, including SMT/PCBA, assembly, programming, calibration, testing, final inspection, and packaging.
• Plan and control production schedules, capacity, manpower, and resources to meet customer orders and delivery commitments.
• Lead production supervisors, technicians, operators, maintenance, and other factory personnel.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing indicators such as OEE, FPY, productivity, downtime, scrap, rework, and efficiency.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S, process optimization, waste reduction, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with Quality, Engineering, Warehouse, Logistics, Procurement, and Supply Chain to resolve operational issues.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, quality controls, traceability, ESD, HSE, and applicable standards.
• Lead production‑line setup, process validation, new product introduction, capacity expansion, and ramp‑up.
• Manage factory operating costs and report performance, risks, and corrective actions to management.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics, Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing operations experience with responsibility for managing a production facility.
• Proven experience in smart meter, electronics or high‑volume electromechanical manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, decision‑making, problem‑solving and factory management skills.
• Experience working in multicultural manufacturing environments.

Required skills

• Hands‑on experience with SMT, PCBA, electronic assembly, programming, calibration and testing.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, IPC standards, ISO 9001 and ERP/MES systems.
• Understanding of OEE, FPY, productivity, downtime, scrap, rework and manufacturing efficiency.
• Root‑cause analysis, CAPA, process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Manufacturing quality systems, traceability, ESD and HSE requirements.
• Knowledge of smart metering, AMI, DLMS/COSEM and automated meter testing (advantage).

What we offer

• Lead and shape manufacturing operations for next‑generation smart electricity, water, and gas meter solutions.
• Work with advanced electronics manufacturing processes across SMT, PCBA, assembly, testing and final production.
• Play a key role in scaling factory operations, driving manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement within a growing technology company.