Chief Operations Officer

Location: On-Site

Employment Type: Full-Time

Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and education

Who We Are Looking For

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet every qualification listed below.

We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and scale ZPC’s operational functions during a critical phase of growth. This role is suited for a leader who thrives in fast-paced, build-and-scale environments and is comfortable operating across both strategy and execution.

This role requires someone who can build systems and develop people. You will play a key role in mentoring and elevating our operations and production leaders, helping them grow into strong, accountable managers while establishing the structure needed to scale effectively.

You will work closely with the CTO and leadership team to translate business strategy into operational execution while strengthening leadership capability across the organization.

What Will You Do

Working closely with the leadership team, you will oversee and evolve ZPC’s operational infrastructure.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading and scaling core operational functions including production, manufacturing, supply chain, and project delivery
• Turn company goals into clear plans and actionable steps for teams to execute
• Building systems, processes, and KPIs to support scalability, efficiency, and accountability
• Driving excellence across fabrication, assembly, and installation workflows
• Partnering with technical leadership to align engineering, production, and delivery timelines
• Establishing forecasting, capacity planning, and resource allocation processes
• Identifying and mitigating operational risks as the company scales
• Supporting hiring, mentoring, and organizational development across operations
• Mentoring and developing operations and production leaders, providing coaching, structure, and guidance to strengthen leadership capability and accountability
• Improving communication between technical, business, and operational teams
• Leading continuous improvement initiativesEnsuring quality standards are maintained as production volume and complexity increase

Preferred Experience / Technical Skills

• 8–15+ years of experience in operations, manufacturing, or scaling organizations
• Experience in a leadership role (Director, VP, or COO level) within a high-growth or technical environment
• Strong understanding of manufacturing, supply chain, and production workflows
• Experience building and implementing operational systems and processes from early-stage through scaleDemonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams and align stakeholders
• Proven experience mentoring and developing managers or team leads in operations or production environments
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost control
• Experience working in hardware, deep-tech, or engineering-driven organizations is strongly preferred
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution

Nice to Have / Considered an Asset

• Experience in physics, cryogenics, quantum technology, or highly specialized manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with ERP systems
• Experience scaling a company through rapid growth phases
• Exposure to project-based manufacturing or custom engineering environments
• Background in engineering, physics, or technical disciplines

What Will You Bring

• A systems-oriented mindset with the ability to bring structure to complexity
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to align and motivate teams
• A coaching mindset with the ability to develop emerging leaders into high-performing managers
• The ability to balance accountability with support, setting clear expectations while investing in team growth
• Pragmatism and sound judgment in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
• Accountability and ownership for operational outcomes
• A collaborative approach to working across technical and business teams
• A focus on building sustainable, scalable systems rather than short-term fixes

Compensation And Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and education
• 100% employer-paid group benefits, including:
  • Health and dental
  • $750 annual Health Care Spending Account
  • Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Flexible Paid Time Off policy
• Paid statutory holidays
• Employee-paid life insurance and long-term disability benefits

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