Raul Irizarry

About Raul Irizarry

Strategic Operations & Program Leader with 30+ years driving operational transformation, capital projects, and high-performance manufacturing across aerospace, defense, Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), and mission-critical industries. I lead multi-site, low-volume/high-mix (LVHM) and high-mix operations with full P&L ownership ($100M–$625M), delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and cost performance across OEM program environments and defense manufacturing. Proven expertise in program and project management — including New Product Introduction (NPI) cycles from production readiness through customer ramp — managing initiatives end-to-end from problem framing and stakeholder alignment to solution design and execution. Skilled at leading greenfield and brownfield facility expansions, capital project delivery, and large-scale site startups while embedding Lean, Operational Excellence (OpEx), and continuous improvement principles across organizations. Experienced deploying lean operating systems aligned with principles including standard work, daily visual management, operating cadences, and strategy deployment. Known for building high-performing teams, coaching emerging leaders, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence. Experienced navigating complex ITAR/FAR/DFARS-regulated environments with a Secret Clearance, ensuring mission-critical delivery and compliance. Active in local economic development and workforce pipeline initiatives, including university and community college partnerships for technical talent development and skilled trade certification programs. Focused on driving operational scalability, factory network orchestration, and decentralization strategies to enable growth across multi-site manufacturing networks. Adept at leveraging data-driven dashboards, KPIs, and digital transformation initiatives (Industry 4.0) to enhance decision-making, throughput, and customer satisfaction. Career spans defense and aerospace manufacturing, EMS with tier-1 OEM customers including IBM, HP, Coca-Cola, and TYCO, and large-scale capital project delivery — making my operational and program leadership expertise fully transferable to industrial, energy, medical device, and regulated manufacturing environments. Florida-based operations executive, Space Coast region. Open to VP, Director, or Senior Program/Project Leadership roles in Florida and Georgia. Bilingual (English/Spanish)| Secret Clearance

Experience

1. Sr Director of Operations Melbourne Operations Site Leader

   Leonardo DRS

   Jun 2021 — Present · Melbourne, FL, US

   Electro-Optical Infrared Systems (EOIS)|$625M Business | 680+ Direct/Indirect Labor | 9 Direct ReportsExecutive site leader with full operational ownership of a $625M defense manufacturing facility delivering EO/IR systems. Lead low-volume/high-mix (LVHM) and high-mix operations across production, engineering, supply chain, inventory control, planning, quality, and facilities.• Achieved 15% productivity gains and 10% improvement in on-time delivery, consistently exceeding production, quality, and cost targets.• Developed and promoted 7 Operations Program Managers, strengthening the leadership pipeline and enabling operational scalability across functions.• Built and mentored a high-performing manufacturing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.• Deployed site-wide KPI dashboards and cycle-time analytics, enhancing cross-functional alignment and data-driven decision-making.• Led cultural transformation and OpEx initiatives, supporting change management, process standardization, and performance improvement.• Provided executive oversight and strategic guidance for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs — supporting Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) led by Operations Program Managers to ensure production readiness, process qualification, workforce readiness, and on-time customer ramp• Community/workforce development with UCF and Eastern Florida State College. • Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development engagement

Education

• University of Florida

  Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering

• University of Florida

  BSIE, Industrial Engineering

Skills

• Industrial Engineering
• Project Planning
• Logistics
• Sap
• Inventory Control
• Microsoft Office
• Warehousing
• Business Development
• Strategic Planning & Execution
• M.o.s.t
• Lean Manufacturing
• Revenue & Profit Growth
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Multi-National Operations Management
• Feasibility Analysis
• Process Simplification & Redesign
• Turnkey Product Manufactuing
• Change Management
• Oem & Odm
• Bilingual
• Deployment of Projects Internationally
• Project Management
• Manufacturing Line Design
• Manufacturing
• Strategic Planning
• Purchasing
• Operations Management
• Budgets
• Continuous Improvement
• Feasibility Studies
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Mrp
• Management
• Process Improvement
• Process Engineering
• Leadership
• Materials Management
• Engineering
• Kaizen
• Value Stream Mapping