Operational Excellence Manager

AeroVironment•Simi Valley, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager of Operational Excellence is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing the lean manufacturing strategy. They drive value stream efficiency and strategic use of resources, ensuring alignment with business goals related to output, cost, quality, and lead time. AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of related experience in complex assembly production environments.
Minimum of 3 years of successfully leading manufacturing teams within a product development environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Proficiency in process simulation tools, time studies, and data analytics.
Strong leadership, project management, and facilitation skills.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a demanding production environment.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 50%).
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
This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction.
Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.
U.S. Citizenship required

Responsibilities

Lead and own lean manufacturing implementation across all business units using lean tools and concepts.
Develop & maintain lean training tools, content, training boot camps, workshops, kaizen & project management funnels.
Standardize problem solving methodology, draft accompanying training content and deployment strategy.
Conduct and lead value stream mapping activities to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
Own the implementation and execution of value stream tracking centers at all business units.
Deploy Lean methodologies to reduce variation, waste, and non-value-added activities.
Facilitate cross-functional Kaizen events and improvement workshops across departments and business units.
Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Establish visual and daily management systems with appropriate KPI tracking for performance management at various levels and departments.
Develop cost-benefit analyses for capital projects and process changes.
Develop, train and mentor supervisors, engineers, and front line teams in lean manufacturing principles.
Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Build lean maturity road maps and assess organizational readiness for transformation.
Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to align lean initiatives with business objectives.
Interface with executive leadership to report lean transformation progress, ROI, and impact.
Ensure compliance with applicable standards including AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and customer-specific quality requirements.
Work collaboratively with local teams & foster a continuous improvement culture within all business units.
Other duties as assigned