Directed Energy Sr Operations Engineering Manager
AeroVironment · Albuquerque, NM
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $128k–$195k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 17 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at AeroVironment (aerospace & defense) in Albuquerque, NM.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen, Root cause
- Base pay
- $128k–$195k
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 Production team at AeroVironment
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Scott → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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
Responsibilities
- ◆Lead operations engineering strategy and execution across the complete product lifecycle.
- ◆Develop and implement processes that support new product introduction, production ramp-up, sustainment, upgrades, and end-of-life activities.
- ◆Partner with design engineering to ensure products are designed for manufacturability, assembly, test, inspection, service, and cost effectiveness.
- ◆Establish product and manufacturing readiness criteria, metrics, and review processes.
- ◆Lead design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly reviews.
- ◆Develop manufacturing processes, work instructions, tooling, fixtures, test equipment, and production methods.
- ◆Support product development from early concepts and prototype builds through qualification, production release, and full-rate production.
- ◆Coordinate cross-functional efforts to resolve technical, manufacturing, quality, and operational issues.
- ◆Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions related to production, field performance, reliability, and maintainability.
- ◆Develop strategies to improve production capacity, throughput, yield, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness.
- ◆Collaborate with supply chain and suppliers to improve component availability, manufacturability, cost, quality, and lead times.
- ◆Support supplier qualification, process validation, production part approval, and supplier performance improvement.
- ◆Establish and maintain manufacturing bills of material, routings, process specifications, and configuration-controlled documentation.
- ◆Ensure manufacturing and operations engineering changes are properly evaluated, documented, approved, and implemented.
- ◆Lead production readiness reviews, manufacturing design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and lifecycle planning activities.
- ◆Support test development, production acceptance testing, inspection planning, and equipment qualification.
- ◆Develop and track lifecycle metrics, including cost, quality, schedule, yield, defects, escapes, rework, reliability, and service performance.
- ◆Drive standardization and continuous improvement across products, programs, and manufacturing sites.
- ◆Identify and mitigate operational risks throughout the product lifecycle.
- ◆Support product configuration management, change control, obsolescence management, and component lifecycle planning.
- ◆Partner with field service and sustainment teams to improve maintainability, repair processes, technical documentation, and product support.
- ◆Establish end-of-life plans, including last-time buys, replacement components, repair strategies, and transition requirements.
- ◆Mentor and develop operations engineers and technical personnel.
- ◆Manage priorities, resources, budgets, schedules, and performance objectives for the operations engineering organization.
- ◆Communicate program status, risks, recommendations, and operational performance to senior leadership.
Basic
(Required Skills & Competencies )
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- ✓5-10 years of experience in operations engineering, manufacturing engineering, product lifecycle management, or a related field.
- ✓5-10 years of experience leading engineering or operations teams.
- ✓Demonstrated experience supporting the full product lifecycle, including new product introduction and production sustainment.
- ✓Experience working in complex, regulated, high-reliability, or advanced manufacturing environments.
- ✓Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production systems, quality methods, and engineering change management.
- ✓Experience with design-for-manufacturability, design-for-assembly, process development, and production readiness.
- ✓Experience leading cross-functional teams and resolving complex technical and operational issues.
- ✓Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- ✓Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- ✓Experience with ERP, PLM, MES, MRP, or manufacturing data-management systems.
Other
requirements
management, and co
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Worker Type
Regular
Job Description
Summary
The Directed Energy Sr. Operations Engineering Manager will lead operations engineering activities across the entire product lifecycle from concept development and design introduction through production, deployment, sustainment, modification, and end-of-life. This role will ensure products are designed for manufacturability, testability, reliability, serviceability, scalability, and cost effectiveness.
The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams, establish operational strategies, improve manufacturing readiness, and drive continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle. This position will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, program management, field operations, and customers to ensure products meet operational, technical, quality, schedule, and cost objectives.
Position
& Desired Competencie s
- +Master's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
- +Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, unmanned systems, electronics, or other high-reliability industries.
- +Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
- +Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- +Project Management Professional certification or equivalent experience.
- +Experience with configuration management, systems engineering, reliability engineering, and sustainment planning.
- +Experience managing products through qualifications, low-rate initial production, full-rate production, field deployment, and retirement.
- +Knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, FAA, DoD, or other applicable quality and regulatory standards.
- +Experience with product lifecycle,