Lean Practitioner - AMT

Zenix Aerospace Inc•Arlington, WA

7d•$104,000 - $129,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Lean Practitioner is responsible for leading and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across aerospace manufacturing operations. This role applies Lean principles and operational excellence methodologies to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and compliance while ensuring adherence to aerospace industry standards, including AS9100, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations. The Lean Practitioner partners with production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams to eliminate waste, optimize processes, increase throughput, and drive sustainable business results.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
Equivalent combination of education and aerospace manufacturing experience may be considered.
3+ years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or Industrial Engineering.
Experience within aerospace, defense, aviation, or highly regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
Proven record of leading cross-functional improvement projects with measurable operational results.
Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Principles
Working knowledge of Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
Working knowledge of Kaizen Facilitation
Working knowledge of 5S Workplace Organization
Working knowledge of Standard Work
Working knowledge of Visual Management
Working knowledge of Kanban Systems
Working knowledge of Cellular Manufacturing
Working knowledge of SMED (Quick Changeover)
Working knowledge of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
Working knowledge of Root Cause Analysis
Working knowledge of A3 Problem Solving
Working knowledge of PDCA Methodology
Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Working knowledge of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Strong leadership and facilitation skills
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Ability to influence without direct authority
Effective communication across all organizational levels
Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Data-driven decision-making mindset
Commitment to operational excellence and quality
Candidate must be a U.S. person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status.

Nice To Haves

Lean Practitioner Certification
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
AS9100 Internal Auditor Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as INFOR, SAP, Oracle, or Epicor
Experience supporting FAA, DoD, NASA, or commercial aerospace customers

Responsibilities

Lead Lean transformation initiatives across manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, machining, test, and support operations.
Facilitate Kaizen events, Rapid Improvement Workshops, and Value Stream Mapping activities.
Identify and eliminate non-value-added activities to improve productivity, flow, and operational performance.
Support the development and execution of site-level Operational Excellence strategies.
Drive implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement best practices.
Analyze manufacturing workflows and production constraints to improve throughput and reduce cycle times.
Conduct root cause investigations using A3, 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and other structured problem-solving methods.
Implement Standard Work, Visual Management systems, Leader Standard Work, and Daily Management practices.
Support cellular manufacturing, point-of-use inventory, pull systems, and Kanban deployments.
Improve material flow throughout production and warehouse operations.
Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams to improve First Pass Yield (FPY) and reduce defects and rework.
Ensure improvement initiatives align with AS9100 quality management requirements and customer specifications.
Support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities resulting from audits, customer complaints, and nonconformance investigations.
Participate in internal audits and continuous improvement activities supporting regulatory compliance.
Develop and monitor operational metrics and KPIs.
Analyze manufacturing data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Build reports and dashboards to communicate improvement results to leadership.
Validate and sustain financial savings generated through Lean projects.
Train and coach employees, supervisors, and managers on Lean tools and methodologies.
Facilitate employee engagement in continuous improvement programs.
Develop CI champions and support a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
Promote safety, quality, and customer-focused behaviors throughout the organization.