Leads manufacturing strategy, process development, and production readiness across multiple programs, driving efficiency, quality, and scalability in complex production environments.
Key Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership for manufacturing process development, qualification, and sustainment
Define and implement strategies (lean, automation, DFMA, digital manufacturing) to improve performance
Lead production readiness planning, risk mitigation, and ramp-up activities
Drive tooling, automation, and capital investment decisions with business justification
Standardize processes and implement best practices across production lines
Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives (Six Sigma/Lean)
Integrate manufacturing inputs into design and program decisions
Mentor engineering teams and review technical deliverables
Leverage data analytics and simulation for capacity and process optimization
Coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners to meet schedule and cost targets
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field
12+ years of relevant manufacturing engineering experience
Strong leadership, problem-solving, and process optimization skills
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or related field
15+ years of experience in aerospace/defense or high-reliability manufacturing
Expertise in lean manufacturing, automation, and process qualification
Experience with tools such as CATIA, CREO, MES, DELMIA, FlexSim, or similar
Knowledge of MESci and model-based engineering practices
Experience in supplier integration and production transfer
Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Project Management (PMP)