Assoc. Manager, Space Optics Manufacturing, Assembly & Integration

L3HHCM20•Wilmington, MA

9d•$88,000 - $164,000

About The Position

The L3Harris Space Superiority and Imaging Division’s site in Wilmington, MA is an industry leader in the design and production of space based optical telescopes for small satellites. We produce cutting edge optical systems for commercial customers, the military, and NASA. Our legacy is writing in the stars – L3Harris Wilmington produced the technology that took the first close-up image of Puto aboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/images/index.html). We are looking for a creative, results driven Associate Manager of Operations Management to lead a multi-disciplinary team of technicians. This high-impact role bridges the gap between design and delivery. You will provide the technical manufacturing leadership, influence strategic decision making, and drive continuous improvement across the team. In this position, you will have the opportunity to balance site-wide leadership with hands on involvement in specific development programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering, Science, or Business discipline with a minimum 6 years prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
5+ years experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally with a focus on Development or New Product Introduction (NPI).
Experience managing/leading in a manufacturing environment
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Active U.S Security Clearance is preferred
Experience working with space optical systems
Ability to communicate complex technical and operational data to senior management and cross-functional stakeholders
Demonstrated experience implementing Lean and Six Sigma tools.
A proactive desire to "push the envelope" in safety and waste reduction to improve the operation

Responsibilities

Manage a team of 30+ technicians across diverse specialties, providing mentorship, performance reviews, and career development plans.
Champion a “safety is non-negotiable” culture within the group. Create a culture where people want to work safely, not have to work safely. Lead investigations, coordinate cross-functionally to resolve hazards, and ensure 100% compliance with safety standards, making safety the cultural backbone of the group.
Oversee the planning and execution of work within our shared services, which include our Machine Shop, Paint Shop, Vacuum Bakeout, and Precision Cleaning cells. Plans and establishes goals/objectives for the team, with direct impact on the immediate or short-term results for the department.
Coordinate with other L3Harris sites: Work with other L3Harris sites to accomplish their work, leverage their capabilities to outsource when capacity constrained in Wilmington.
Cultivate a high-standard quality culture, ensuring all production meets rigorous mission-critical standards. Spearhead Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations for escapes and non-conformances, transforming technical setbacks into institutional knowledge and long-term process improvements.
Manage technicians across final assembly, test activities, and our Silicon Carbide foundry. Optimize labor allocation and manage overtime requirements to meet program milestones.
Data-Driven Management: Develop and maintain capacity, utilization, and efficiency models. Track Monthly Operations KPIs and spearhead recovery plans for any metrics falling short of targets.
Identify and implement Lean/Six Sigma initiatives to optimize cycle times, quality, and overall manufacturing efficiency. Make moderate to substantial improvements to processes and systems to enhance the performance of the group. The problems that you will solve are complex and may require comprehensive information gathering and analysis. You are the creative solution generator for the team you are leading.
Ensure a consistent flow of information across team members working on multiple programs, maintaining alignment with site-wide objectives. You will communicate internally and externally of the group to gain the cooperation across the organization on improvement initiatives.
Maintain a skills matrix and training plans to identify gaps, ensuring the organization is scalable and prepared for future mission requirements. Lead and develop training initiatives where needed. Lead labor forecasting and hiring activities for the group.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.