Operational Excellence Manager

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions.

Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customer's mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work.

Position Summary:

We are looking for a process minded, and data driven manager to join and lead our Operational Excellence team. You would be the key change agent to foster, promote, and deploy operational processes to ensure continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence.

You, as the Operational Excellence Manager, will be responsible for leading the team that develops, improves, and implements processes to maintain production flow while eliminating risk and implementing controls to avoid recurrences within the FL OPS organization. You would partner with functional leaders to build lean capability, streamline processes, and to lead projects and lean initiatives. You will deploy structured problem solving to improve production processes. This manager has an eye for continuous improvement, a proven track of defining trending systems to eliminate inefficiencies and challenges the status quo while improving data integrity and product reliability.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Plant Manager, you are responsible for the definition, implementation, and control of continuous improvement, statistical control, and tracking methods to meet On Quality, On Time, and On Cost spacecraft deliveries.
• Works collaboratively with cross-functional teams including with the Production and Quality teams to continually improve all processes within the Operations organization.
• Propose transverse improvement projects to the Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Present status of continuous improvement projects to SMT quarterly.
• Fosters the application of advanced engineering principles (RCCA, DOE, VSM) to solve technical (production/quality) problems on flight and non-flight components, manufacturing processes, production flow and overall quality of the production lines.
• Take initiative to observe processes and independently develop innovative solutions to solve problems. Then ensures to drive the execution of improvement projects with the proper stakeholders.
• Accountable to define data-driven processes to identify root cause and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence of anomalies ensuring that all aspects of an operation or process meet specified regulations.
• Prioritize support to the production floor in continuous improvement efforts, to drive process commissioning on new and legacy production lines, while maintaining uniformity between those product lines.
• Able to train in production processes and lean manufacturing techniques to deliver measurable results.
• Coordinate and communicate assigned projects and statuses with the appropriate personnel and departments. Establish realistic plans and set short-term and long-term goals. Develop contingency plans.
• Manage department budget to ensure proper improvement projects are implemented accordingly.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• 10+ years' experience in manufacturing environment.
• Prior small satellite manufacturing and test experience preferred.
• Prior management experience preferred.
• Working knowledge and hands-on experience on definition of SPC and characterization of failures.
• Proven experience on data mining and deep understanding of characterization of failure modes required.
• Working knowledge in Lean Manufacturing and Root Cause Analysis techniques such as (8D, Fish Bone Diagram, 5 Whys, DOE, etc.).
• Formal training or certification, in Operational Excellence Systems (Lean, 5S, Six Sigma, APQP) a plus.
• Working knowledge and hands-on experience with production systems and troubleshooting techniques.
• Leader that can deliver results through influence.
• Working knowledge of the quality management systems AS9001.
• Strong organizational, analytical, root cause analysis, critical-thinker and problem-solving skills.
• A decision maker that is highly proactive and autonomous.
• Proven experience of managing production deadlines.
• Interpersonal skills to drive corrective action implementation.
• Ability to work independently and within the teams.
• Excellent verbal and written skills to communicate effectively across the organization.
• Strong networking and relations building skills.
• Solid understanding of test flow and functional inter-relationships.
• Strong background in aerospace industry.
• Skilled in the use of Outlook, Excel, pivot tables, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, and TEAMS.
• Working knowledge of SAP (or similar ERP system), JIRA, and MES.

Work schedule:

• This position's normal hours are during First Shift (7:00 am to 3:30 pm).
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, as needed.
• This position is onsite.

Physical Requirements:

• The work environment can be busy, noisy, and conditions may vary. Also, contains some mechanical and chemical hazards.
• Protective requirements include safety shoes and glasses. Other protective equipment may also be necessary based on the specific task.

Equal Opportunity:

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status.

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your resume or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief.