Jobs at Optimax Systems, Inc. (Now Hiring) — 11 open

Manager of Facilities and Safety

 

Optimax is experiencing exciting growth and expanding our team! Whether you are starting your career or looking for a new challenge, we offer a dynamic work environment, opportunities for advancement, and the chance to contribute to creating cutting-edge optics for a wide range of industries. Apply now and start your career journey with Optimax!

 A unique corporate culture combined with a dynamic work environment:

At Optimax, we build lenses that power cutting-edge technologies in aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics. Our optics help shape breakthroughs that benefit humanity and protect our freedom. We offer a dynamic and collaborative work environment where innovation and teamwork thrive. We are looking for motivated individuals who are eager to learn, grow, and contribute to impactful projects.

Job Summary and Essential Job Duties:

The Manager of Facilities & Safety is responsible for ensuring that Optimax's manufacturing campuses operate safely, reliably, and efficiently through effective management of facilities, infrastructure, environmental compliance, and occupational safety programs. This role leads the Facilities and Safety organization, directing both internal staff and contractors to maintain world-class manufacturing environments that support precision optics production.

The Manager oversees all aspects of facility maintenance, capital improvements, utilities, grounds, janitorial services, and infrastructure expansion while leading the company's Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) program. The position is also responsible for emergency preparedness and serves as a key operational leader during facility emergencies including power outages, weather events, fire incidents, utility failures, and other situations that impact business continuity.

This position requires strong technical leadership, project management skills, and the ability to balance safety, operational reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term facility planning.

Job Responsibilities:  

Facilities Operations & Maintenance

• Lead all facility maintenance activities across the Ontario campus. 
• Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs for building systems and infrastructure. 
• Ensure reliable operation of HVAC, compressed air, vacuum systems, DI water, electrical distribution, generators, fire suppression, security systems, and other critical utilities. 
• Manage facility work order systems and maintenance planning. 
• Oversee janitorial services to maintain clean manufacturing, laboratory, office, and common areas. 
• Manage landscaping, snow removal, parking lots, exterior maintenance, and grounds appearance. 
• Ensure facilities consistently support ISO, customer, and clean manufacturing requirements. 
• Develop annual maintenance budgets and capital replacement plans. 

Facilities Expansion & Capital Projects

• Lead facility renovations, infrastructure upgrades, and campus expansion projects. 
• Manage building modifications supporting production growth. 
• Coordinate architects, engineers, contractors, and regulatory agencies. 
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, and risk assessments. 
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget. 
• Plan future infrastructure capacity including electrical power, HVAC, utilities, manufacturing space, security, and parking. 
• Manage departmental budgets while driving continuous reductions in facility operating costs—including energy, utilities, maintenance, and contracted services—without compromising reliability, safety, or operational performance.
• Manages and maintains the following systems:
  • Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
  • Building Automation Systems (BAS)
  • Energy Management Systems

Environmental, Health & Safety Leadership

• Direct the Safety Engineering team responsible for company-wide EHS programs. This includes organizing regular team meetings to discuss opportunities for improvement, training, incidents/near miss incidents.
• Develop and maintain company safety policies and procedures. 
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, NYSDEC, local fire codes, and other regulatory requirements. 
• Manage environmental permitting and reporting. 
• Oversee hazardous waste management, chemical storage, emissions, wastewater, and recycling programs. 
• Lead incident investigations and corrective action implementation. 
• Monitor safety performance metrics and drive continuous improvement. 
• Conduct management safety reviews and participate in internal and external audits. 
• Ensure employee safety training is completed and maintained. 

 Emergency Response & Business Continuity

• Serve as the operational leader during facility emergencies. 
• Be available on-call to respond to major facility incidents including: 
  • Power outages 
  • Fire alarms 
  • Water leaks 
  • HVAC failures 
  • Utility interruptions 
  • Severe weather 
  • Environmental incidents 
  • Security events 
• Coordinate response with local emergency services when required. 
• Lead recovery activities to restore operations safely and efficiently. 
• Develop and maintain facility emergency response plans. 
• Support Business Continuity Planning initiatives. 

Contractor & Vendor Management

• Manage relationships with maintenance contractors, construction firms, utility providers, and service vendors. 
• Develop contractor safety requirements. 
• Ensure contractors comply with Optimax safety standards. 
• Negotiate service contracts and monitor performance. 
• Evaluate vendor quality, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness. 

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead Facilities Maintenance personnel, Safety Engineers, and support staff. 
• Establish departmental goals aligned with company objectives. 
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members. 
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and safety ownership. 
• Build cross-functional partnerships with Operations, Engineering, Quality, IT, Supply Chain, and Human Resources. 

Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in facility reliability and equipment uptime. 
• Reduce maintenance costs through preventive maintenance and lifecycle planning. 
• Improve energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. 
• Identify automation opportunities within facilities operations. 
• Utilize KPIs to measure departmental performance and drive operational excellence. 

Minimum Requirements:

• 8–12 years of progressively responsible facilities or plant engineering experience. 
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing technical teams. 
• Experience in manufacturing environments required. 
• Experience managing capital construction or facility expansion projects. 
• Experience leading safety and environmental compliance programs. 
• Preferred experience in precision manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, defense, or optics industries.

Technical Knowledge:

Strong knowledge of:

• Industrial facility maintenance 
• Building mechanical systems 
• Electrical infrastructure 
• HVAC systems 
• Compressed air and utilities 
• Fire protection systems 
• Building automation systems 
• OSHA regulations 
• EPA environmental regulations 
• Hazardous materials management 
• Lockout/Tagout 
• Machine guarding 
• Risk assessment 
• Incident investigation 
• Emergency response planning 
• Contractor safety management 
• Preventive maintenance systems 
• Capital project management 

Work Requirements: 

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch: and talk and hear.
• The job may involve prolong periods of sitting/standing.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp.

Work Environment:

• This position works in a manufacturing environment. The noise level can vary from quiet to loud frequencies.
• May involve the use of oils and solvents.
• Generally works in a clean environment and works to maintain the environment as such.
• May require area specific safety training.
• The employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes.
• May be assigned to various production areas as needs require.

 

Compensation & Benefits:

Optimax offers competitive compensation based on experience and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Bonus: 25% Monthly Profit Sharing
• Tuition Assistance: Support for continuing education
• Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision options
• 401(k): Retirement plan with employer match
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation and paid holidays
• Other Benefits: Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA)

 

ITAR Compliance: 

Employment at Optimax Systems, Inc. is subject to export control compliance requirements, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) issued by the United States Department of State, Department of Defense Trade Controls, and the Export Administration Regulations. Learn more about the ITAR here. To meet export control compliance requirements for this position, an applicant must be a “U.S. Person” as defined by applicable regulations or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. “U.S. Person” includes a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Optimax is committed to offering equal opportunity for all candidates. We encourage you to apply regardless of background, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Optimax will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. 

If you require an accommodation to apply for this position, please contact our Human Resources team at 585-265-1020.