About Harvest Systems
Harvest Systems harvests and recycles waste heat to reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Focused on the restaurant industry, Harvest's platform acts as a drop-in replacement for traditional water heaters by capturing waste heat from commercial cooking appliances and storing it in a hot water tank without affecting safety or performance. Harvest is a fast-moving startup expanding its team with driven operators.
Job Overview
The Operations Lead will be responsible for the full production and installation lifecycle of a novel heat reclaiming platform designed for the food service industry. This includes: production, fabrication, systems-integration, supplier quality, and installation lifecycle. The role is focused on building the operational infrastructure needed for the transition from pilot builds to repeatable production: shop-floor workflows, supplier and QA controls, assembly and test fixtures, BOM discipline, inventory readiness, and installation execution. The Operations Lead works in close collaboration with the other members of the team to ensure a consistently high level of quality and productivity. This position will report to the COO.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day shop-floor, fabrication, systems-integration, and restaurant installation operations, including schedules, kitting, inventory, commissioning support, and operational records.
- Build out Harvest's fabrication and systems-integration facility, including layout, workstations, equipment readiness, material flow, assembly jigs, production fixtures, gauges, and work instructions.
- Establish and manage domestic and international component suppliers, ensuring sourced parts conform to Harvest-defined design, quality, safety, regulatory, and certification specifications.
- Develop supplier qualification and quality-control processes, including technical specification packages, sampling/first-article inspection, incoming inspection, non-conformance tracking, corrective actions, and supplier performance monitoring.
- Establish QA checklists, factory-acceptance tests, inspection protocols, and QA test fixtures for internal teams and quality-control partners in jurisdictions where Harvest uses international suppliers.
- Own and improve a detailed costed BOM for all components and sub-assemblies, including revision status, supplier details, approved alternates, lead times, country of origin/HS codes where required, inventory needs, and quality checkpoints.
- Drive DFM/DFMA, component upgrades, alternate sourcing, supplier negotiations, and cost-down initiatives as production volumes increase while protecting quality, reliability, and certification requirements.
- Implement and improve SOPs, production controls, maintenance/troubleshooting routines, and safety practices for machinery, tooling, test equipment, field installation readiness, and compliance-related controls.
- Provide technical support and training to technicians, operators, installation partners, and future operations personnel; analyze operational/quality data and feed learnings into product and process improvements.
Qualifications
- Associate's college or engineering degree in industrial technology, manufacturing, mechanical technology, supply chain, quality systems, or related field preferred.
- Minimum of three years of experience in manufacturing, fabrication, systems integration, or production operations.
- Hands-on knowledge of production equipment, CNC/fabrication machinery, assembly processes, shop-floor workflow, and mechanical troubleshooting.
- Experience designing or improving assembly jigs, production fixtures, QA test fixtures, work instructions, factory-acceptance procedures, or repeatable inspection/assembly processes.
- Experience qualifying suppliers, managing domestic or international component suppliers, conducting first-article/incoming inspections, and maintaining supplier documentation.
- Ability to build and manage detailed BOMs, costed component lists, revision control, approved alternates, kitting/inventory records, and production documentation.
- Working knowledge of QA/QC systems, non-conformance/corrective-action processes, safety requirements, regulatory/certification documentation, and supplier quality controls.
- Able to read and interpret CAD, schematics, technical specifications, BOMs, inspection plans, and certification-related documents.
- Strong analytical, communication, leadership, and cross-functional coordination skills in a fast-moving startup environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite; experience with ERP/MRP, procurement, commercial construction, HVAC/plumbing, equipment integration, or regulated product manufacturing is an asset.
What we offer:
- Opportunity to join a purpose-driven company at a pivotal stage of growth
- Hands-on role with innovative technology
- Collaborative and entrepreneurial team culture
- Competitive compensation and room for advancement
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
