Manager, Advanced Industrialization

Aerovironment • Simi Valley, CA

210d • $136,807 - $194,040

About The Position

The role of Manager, Advanced Industrialization plays a pivotal role in bridging product development and scalable, efficient manufacturing. Their focus is on ensuring that new products are designed for manufacturability and introduced into production with minimal risk, maximum efficiency, and robust quality. This role is critical in organizations aiming to modernize operations, ramp up production, and maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering.
• Minimum of 3 years of successfully leading manufacturing teams within a product development environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Expertise in DfX, Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and automation technologies.
• Proven experience in NPI, process validation, and ramp-up planning.
• Familiarity with ERP, PLM, MES, and digital manufacturing platforms.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proven adaptability in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Strategic thinker who anticipates change and fosters team alignment.
• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a focus on shared success.
• Ownership-driven, continuously learning, and improvement-focused.

Responsibilities

• Lead the industrial readiness for new product introductions (NPI), ensuring production lines, equipment, and processes are validated before launch.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to influence product designs that meet cost, quality, and volume goals (DfX: Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Cost, etc.).
• Drive Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) assessments and risk mitigation plans.
• Develop, standardize, and implement advanced manufacturing processes and automation solutions.
• Identify and deploy innovative technologies (robotics, additive manufacturing, advanced inspection, etc.).
• Improve yield, reduce cycle times, and eliminate waste through Lean and Six Sigma methods.
• Support Industry 4.0 initiatives by integrating smart manufacturing tools (IoT sensors, MES, digital work instructions, AR/VR for training).
• Implement digital twins, predictive analytics, and process simulation for new production lines.
• Define and source production equipment, fixtures, and tooling for new products.
• Ensure scalability, repeatability, and robustness of manufacturing assets.
• Act as a central liaison between Design Engineering, Production, Quality, and Program teams.
• Lead cross-functional readiness reviews and participate in gate reviews during the product development lifecycle.
• Evaluate and qualify contract manufacturers and suppliers for industrial capability.
• Drive capacity and capability planning for internal and external manufacturing sites.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401K with company matching.
• 9/80 work schedule.
• Paid holiday shutdown.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees