Senior Production Manager - Level L
Spirit AeroSystems · Wichita, KS
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $106k–$163k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 26 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Spirit AeroSystems (aerospace & defense) in Wichita, KS.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- SAP
- Base pay
- $106k–$163k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Kansas: typical posted base $105k–$161k. This one lists $106k–$163k.
Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 30 production engineer openings in Kansas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live production postings in Kansas.
- Base pay
- About 9% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (5+ vs 7+)
Typical $93k–$154k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 67%
- Team leadership 60%
- EHS / safety 37%
- Six Sigma 33%
- ✓ SAP 27%
- Root cause 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
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 Spirit AeroSystems
We found 5 people at this company and state: 3 in this kind of role, 2 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 John → (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?
- 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: Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita
34 other open roles at this site · 5 people we found in production roles at Spirit AeroSystems.
- Operations Engineering Manager · Production · Manager
- Engineering Manager · Manufacturing · Manager
- Industrial Engineer (Associate or Mid-Level) · Industrial
- Crane Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
- Quality Engineer (Associate, Mid-Level, or Senior) · Quality · Senior
- Mid-Level Continuous Improvement Specialist · Lean / CI · Specialist
Full description from Spirit AeroSystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Position
Responsibilities
Lead Production Operations through collaboration with cross functional teams, including First Level Managers, Quality Assurance, Program Management, Engineering, Executive Management, Supply Chain, and Customers, to meet production
requirements
and customer acceptance Interact across all levels of the organization; efficiently and effectively communicate and execute the manufacturing plan and schedule, implement agreed upon changes; navigate difficult situations and conversations to a productive outcome Lead team in quality improvement initiatives Engage in proposal, estimates and/or concept of operations development Lead team in developing solutions to complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity Manage the build process and compliance for engineering requirements, Quality Assurance standards, and customer contract
Qualifications
(Required Skills/Experience): 3-5+ years of related operations leadership/management experience Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets, cost, quality, and schedules Experience leading processes and/or metrics for Operational Excellence Teams and/or Performance Management Teams Experience leading a positional team for continuous improvement Demonstrated ability to work with multiple levels of executive, middle and first-line management, industry peers, as well as internal and external customers Ability to read and interpret integrated master schedules
Preferred Qualifications
(Desired Skills/Experience): Bachelor's Degree or advanced degree 5+ years of operations leadership/management experience Experience in SAP Experience working with large aerospace structures Experience in assembly and fabrication Experience in a union environment Strong Mechanical background with detailed Manufacturing process overview Experience in implementing quality improvements Experience in implementing production improvements Drug Free Workplace: We are a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. Pay & Benefits: We strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. We also provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements. Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Summary Pay Range: $106,300 - $163,000 Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems’ Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.
Position
Responsibilities
Lead Production Operations through collaboration with cross functional teams, including First Level Managers, Quality Assurance, Program Management, Engineering, Executive Management, Supply Chain, and Customers, to meet production
requirements
and customer acceptance Interact across all levels of the organization; efficiently and effectively communicate and execute the manufacturing plan and schedule, implement agreed upon changes; navigate difficult situations and conversations to a productive outcome Lead team in quality improvement initiatives Engage in proposal, estimates and/or concept of operations development Lead team in developing solutions to complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity Manage the build process and compliance for engineering requirements, Quality Assurance standards, and customer contract
requirements
Basic
Qualifications
(Required Skills/Experience): 3-5+ years of related operations leadership/management experience Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets, cost, quality, and schedules Experience leading processes and/or metrics for Operational Excellence Teams and/or Performance Management Teams Experience leading a positional team for continuous improvement Demonstrated ability to work with multiple levels of executive, middle and first-line management, industry peers, as well as internal and external customers Ability to read and interpret integrated master schedules
Preferred Qualifications
(Desired Skills/Experience): Bachelor's Degree or advanced degree 5+ years of operations leadership/management experience Experience in SAP Experience working with large aerospace structures Experience in assembly and fabrication Experience in a union environment Strong Mechanical background with detailed Manufacturing process overview Experience in implementing quality improvements Experience in implementing production improvements Drug Free Workplace: We are a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, a
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Overview This role is at Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, supporting Spirit’s Commercial Business Units (“Spirit Commercial”). Spirit Commercial designs and builds commercial aerostructures, including for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, one of Boeing’s three business units and the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for decades. Spirit Commercial’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components, with a focus on innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions.
