Lead, Quality Engineer - Continuous Improvement

L3Harris · Camden, AR

Level: Manager
Team: Lean / CI
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 9+ years
Certification: Black Belt preferred
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management continuous improvement role at L3Harris (aerospace & defense) in Camden, AR. By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the.

They ask for: 9+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience) · Black Belt preferred
Tools it names: Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Kaizen, Value stream mapping, APQP

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Continuous Improvement roles in the US: typical posted base $105k–$150k.

Median of the low and high ends of 148 live postings that list pay, out of 393 continuous improvement openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Arkansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 392 other live lean / ci postings in the US.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (9+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Lean 85%
✓ Six Sigma 55%
✓ Kaizen 50%
✓ Value stream mapping 49%
Root cause 46%
5S 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for APQP, ISO 9001, AS9100, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 9+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

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 Lean / CI team at L3Harris
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 CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
- Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
- 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.

This plant: L3Harris in Camden

17 other open roles at this site.

Manufacturing Technician B · Manufacturing · Technician
Manufacturing Technician C · Manufacturing · Technician
Senior Specialist, Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
Engineering Technician (NDT) · Manufacturing
Manager, Materials Process Engineer · Process · Manager
Specialist, Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing

All 18 roles at L3Harris →

Full description from L3HarrisAs posted on their careers site.Show

Essential Functions

◆Apply Lean and continuous improvement methods directly within manufacturing operations.
◆Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and standard work development.
◆Improve flow, reduce waste, and strengthen operational stability.
◆Embed daily management, visual management, and leader standard work.
◆Partner with Quality and Manufacturing Process leaders to ensure improvements support built-in quality.
◆Coach leaders and teams on continuous improvement behaviors and mindset.
◆Sustain gains through metrics, standardization, and follow-up.
◆Share best practices and lessons learned across manufacturing sites.
◆Up to 50% business travel to L3Harris manufacturing sites, dependent on candidate location.
◆Ability to obtain US Security Clearance.

Qualifications

✓Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior quality engineering experience; Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior quality engineering experience; In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 13 years of prior quality engineering experience.
✓4+ years experience applying continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment.
✓4+ years facilitation & coaching experience in a professional work environment.
✓4+ years experience working directly with shop-floor teams.
✓2+ years APQP and Process Control experience.
✓Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Certification(s).

requirements

for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

Show full description ↓

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Lead, Quality Engineer (Continuous Improvement)

Job Location: Camden, AR

Job Schedule: 4/10: Employees work 10 hour days, 4 days a week

Job Description

The Missile Solutions Segment of L3Harris is seeking a Lead, Continuous Improvement Engineer to apply Lean and continuous improvement methods within manufacturing operations in support of Quality & Mission Assurance goals. This role is one of three complementary positions within an integrated Q&MA execution team, focused on improving how work is executed day-to-day. This role emphasizes practical application of continuous improvement—not theory—by embedding Lean principles into daily manufacturing routines, leadership behaviors, and team problem-solving.

Preferred Additional Skills

+Experience in manufacturing and quality, preferably defense, aerospace, automotive, or similar industries.
+Experience with Lean production systems and operational excellence frameworks.
+Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar standards.
+Prior leadership experience with direct reports or significant cross-functional influence.
+Experience collaborating within a Microsoft 365 environment, with proficiency in the included applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)