Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor
AeroVironment · Simi Valley, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $98k–$149k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at AeroVironment (aerospace & defense) in Simi Valley, CA.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience) · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, FMEA, Minitab
- Base pay
- $98k–$149k
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at AeroVironment
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
About the role
requirements
for composite fabrication, composite & mechanical subassemblies, and final integration and testing of systems. Works closely with the other functional leaders and Program Managers to execute key objectives and programs to meet schedules and budgets.
Responsibilities
- ◆Supports the development, maintenance, and improvement of manufacturing processes with a focus on efficiency and quality
- ◆Helps implement Lean Manufacturing principles and apply Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead time reduction
- ◆Analyzes production metrics (yields, capacity, cost, and process capability) to trigger and lead improvement projects
- ◆Establishes and maintains standard hours and sequence of operations for current and future production processes
- ◆Generates and updates work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting documentation controlling the manufacturing process
- ◆Participates in root cause analysis and problem solving to resolve issues related to materials, design, equipment, and people
- ◆Works on Manufacturing Strategies and capacity models for new and current products, including estimation and maintenance of capital requisitions
- ◆Participates in the design and development of manufacturing workflows and layout of equipment for maximum efficiency
- ◆Performs cost estimating of new tooling and fixtures required to support production floor; leads Make/Buy analysis and trade studies on assemblies with cross-functional team
- ◆Performs Design for Manufacturing, cost, and reliability analysis on new products with the design engineering team
- ◆Other duties as assigned
requirements
to best utilize equipment and manufacturing techniques
(Required Skills & Experience)
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in industrial, Mechanical, or similar field is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
- ✓Minimum 2 years' experience in supervisory role
- ✓Minimum 3-5 years' experience in a Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, Test Engineering or similar field in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries
- ✓Familiar with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies and tools for process development and control
Other
requirements
and deadlines to complete tasks independently; ability to manage stress
- ✓Effectively communicates with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities and other considerations to facilitate and improve production processes
- ✓Ability to apply statistical analysis to optimize production workflows and production layouts
- ✓Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
- ✓Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
- ✓Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
- ✓Familiar with electro-mechanical manufacturing, drawings, procedures, and Bill of Materials
- ✓Experienced user in Microsoft Office (Word, Visio, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Access, Project)
- ✓Familiar with Minitab, MRP/ERP (Oracle is preferred), Agile, and CAD programs (SolidWorks is prefer
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
The Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor provides Manufacturing Engineering support to internal and external manufacturing facilities to resolve any manufacturing or related issues on sustaining and new products and leads the planning, task management, and execution of engineering activities to ensure accountability to schedule, cost, and quality targets. Ensures product quality and delivery schedule
Task & Project Management
- •Utilizes Jira (or equivalent work management tools) to create, prioritize, assign, and track engineering and production tasks, ensuring alignment with program schedules and milestones.
- •Develops and maintains Task Tracking boards, dashboards, and workflows to provide clear visibility of task status, dependencies, and risks to stakeholders and leadership.
- •Ensures timely and accurate updating of tasks by the team to support effective planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.
- •Leads collaborative engineering improvement activities alongside engineering and suppliers to improve cost, cycle time, or to drive quality improvement activities
- •Participates in Design Failures Modes and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) activities as a key contributor in the process.
- •Provides guidance to engineering regarding design concepts and specification
Team Leadership & Accountability
- •Leads daily/weekly stand‑ups and regular team syncs to review priorities, remove roadblocks, and reinforce accountability for task completion to committed deadlines.
- •Clearly defines task ownership, deliverables, and due dates for team members, and follows up proactively to ensure on‑time execution in support of production and NPI schedules.
- •Establishes and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) for on‑time task completion, cycle time reduction, and defect reduction, and drives corrective actions when targets are not met.
- •Coaches and develops team members in effective task management, prioritization, and time management to improve individual and team productivity
- •Escalates critical risks to delivery dates in a timely manner and leads cross‑functional problem‑solving to return programs to plan
- •Performs hands-on work to support production floor and aircraft integration and assembly processes as required
Basic
& Desired Competencies
- +Demonstrated effective problem-solving and analytical skills; familiarity with root cause analysis techniques
- +Certification in Lean / Sigma Black Belt through an accredited certification body, preferred
- +Strong organization/planning, time management, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; ability to manage conflict
- +Ability to work within defined