Job Title: Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering – Space Development & Production

Job Code: 18524

Job Location: Wilmington, MA

Job Description:

The L3Harris Imaging Division site in Wilmington, MA is an industry leader in the design and production of space based optical telescopes for small satellites.  This business has produced and continues to produce optical systems for many customers in both the commercial and military markets, as well as NASA.  One such NASA program supported by this business was New Horizons.  Imaging Division Wilmington designed and built the telescope which snapped the first close up pictures of Pluto and its moons (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/images/index.html).  There are many other interesting programs that this business has supported and continues supporting!

The Operations Organization is looking for a talented, strategic, and transformational leader to lead our Manufacturing Engineering department.  This business has more than doubled in revenue over the past few years, and this position is critical in supporting the scaling and transformation the organization.  This position will lead a growing team of Manufacturing Engineers in support of meeting internal & external customers’ needs on both development and production programs.  This position will be required to revolutionize the department by doing the following things:  

• Manage, grow and transform a team of manufacturing engineers and operations program leadership, adapting the structure to best meet the needs of customers & the business.
• Drive improvements that help improve quality, improve schedule execution, and reduce cost using standard engineering best practices and lean/six sigma tools.
• Develop scaled processes that allow effective transition from development to production.
• Formulate and implement a roadmap for adopting new technology and methodologies to improve manufacturing capabilities & practices.
• Develop and implement improvements to manufacturing planning process to drive a daily management system into each development & production program.  

The Senior Manager of Manufacturing Engineering has responsibility for coordinating all manufacturing engineering activities across both NPI programs and production programs.  This person teams closely with all other operation functions (Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Production Planning & EH&S) to drive execution across the business.  Missions also include continuously improving the manufacturing methods through tools and process changes, driving automation to ensure improved product quality, increased production efficiency and capacity, and reducing cost across all programs from proposal to delivery.

Essential Functions:

• Drive a Safety and Quality first culture on the Manufacturing Engineering team, and across the Operations organization with your peers on the Operations Management Team.
• Drive a culture of data-based actions; use existing data/develop tools and metrics to create actionable information to drive improvement.  Drive a culture of metrics driven management throughout all levels of manufacturing engineering. 
• Develop capability of the Manufacturing Engineering team; grow technical skills, as well as project management, facilitation, and leadership skills.
• Support and guide Operations Program Managers, who own all operational activities on their assigned program
• Create and implement a Transition to Production roadmap for each of the development programs with the potential for production volume
• Work with program management, engineering, and operations in both new product introduction and production environments to meet production/program goals
• Develop and implement advanced manufacturing engineering practices and processes to improve the new product introduction within the Operations environment, including an automation strategy for new products.
• Work directly with product development experts on the transfer of designs and processes to manufacturing, including driving DFMAT into new product introductions.
• Head the effort to develop strategies that optimize and monitor manufacturing process design, development and QA/validation efforts from early product development through product launch monitor.
• Forecast headcount & execute hiring needs to support the department.

Qualifications: .

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering or Science discipline with a minimum of 12+ years of prior related experience. Master's degree in an Engineering or Science discipline with a minimum of 10+ years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related Manufacturing Engineering experience.
• Proven success and results in driving improvements in cost, quality and efficiency in manufacturing environments
• Experience transforming teams.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience driving Design for Manufacturing and Assembly into product development.
• Experience with:
  • optical systems and technology
  • production of space based systems
  • new product introduction processes
  • capital management and planning
  • implementing MES systems
  • responding to RFPs with cost estimates
• Knowledge and experience with Lean and 6 Sigma tools such as 5S, value stream mapping, Kaizen, process control, etc.
• Strong knowledge in written product specifications.
• Project Management skills and the ability to organize and manage multiple products through manufacturing process.
• Quality orientation and high attention to detail.
• Effectively work with vendors, customers and various internal departments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and problem solve.
• Ability to obtain a secret or top secret clearance.
• Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively with management and personnel at all levels.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.