Senior Specialist, Project Engineering
About The Position
The Operations Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, internally recognized as a Unit Owner, is responsible for the cost, schedule, and technical performance of operations scope within an assigned product line. The role leads production execution for optical-mechanical assemblies and serves as the primary connection between manufacturing staff, the Operations Program Manager (OPM), the Program Management Office (PMO), and supporting functions. The Unit Owner drives daily execution, resolves production issues, supports Earned Value Management responsibilities, manages risks and opportunities, and leads continuous improvement focused on cost, schedule, and manufacturing process optimization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field and 6+ years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in a related field and 4+ years of relevant experience; or, in lieu of a degree, 10+ years of directly relevant experience.
- Active Secret Clearance.
- Experience working with high-reliability, spaceflight-grade mechanical optical hardware.
- Experience in manufacturing or test engineering roles.
- Demonstrated ability to lead production constraint resolution and process improvements.
- Experience leading root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities.
- Proficiency in MS Project, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
- Ability to obtain IPT Lead and EVMS certification through internal training.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of manufacturing flows, BOMs, routers, shop order processes, and engineering drawings.
- Prior operations leadership experience, such as IPT, campaign, or production cell lead.
- Experience managing program budgets.
- Project management experience.
- Lean Six Sigma experience and process improvement leadership.
- Experience with KPI development and management.
- Strong communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary interface between the production floor, production planning and control, and the Operations Program Manager, driving daily execution for the assigned product line.
- Be accountable for technical, cost, risk and opportunity, and schedule performance of all Operations scope for the assigned product line.
- Serve as the Control Account Manager (CAM), managing and reporting cost and schedule for Operations scope.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Contracts, Manufacturing, and the program office to support action planning and execution.
- Contribute schedule inputs and changes to the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and maintain effective change-management processes and procedures.
- Monitor action items and performance, ensure issues are addressed promptly, and implement corrective actions and recovery plans.
- Plan and coordinate activities supporting verification and validation of new processes and product improvements.
- Support Manufacturing and Production Readiness Reviews for the assigned product line.
- Facilitate Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality participation in design development to identify and address manufacturability, testability, and inspectability issues.
- Develop, implement, and sustain success metrics; incorporate best practices; communicate improvements; and promote Lean initiatives that drive cost savings.
- Manage performance and key deliverables effectively across a matrix organization.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants.
- Employees work 9 out of every 14 days, totaling 80 hours, and have every other Friday off.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
