Continuous Improvement & Industrialization Engineer

Thales; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals at office

28 vacation days

Pension plan

Training programs

Good working environment

Teleworking option

Job summary

Thales Alenia Space seeks a highly motivated Continuous Improvement & Industrialization Engineer to drive operational excellence and support the industrialization of new products and processes. The role focuses on optimizing manufacturing performance, leading improvement initiatives, and ensuring smooth transition from development to serial production.

The candidate should combine industrial engineering, lean manufacturing, process optimization and project management, with experience in

Qualifications

• Master degree in production engineering required.
• 5+ years in Aerospace/EMS/Industrial Manufacturing.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt desirable.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives across production areas.
• Manage improvement and industrialization projects from concept to implementation.
• Develop project schedules, risk assessments, and mitigation plans.
• Monitor KPIs and develop action plans to achieve targets.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Project Management

Data Analytics

Communication

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

Master's degree in Production Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

Python

Industry 4.0

Digital Manufacturing

Job description

Location: Madrid, Spain

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

Thales in Spain is a leader in technological solutions applied to Defence, Aeronautics, Security, Transportation and Space and, furthermore, is a global centre for excellence in Space, Security of Critical Infrastructures and Transportation. With a turnover of €320 million and a staff of 1,200, it exports approximately 40% of its total production principally to the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.

We are seeking a highly motivated Continuous Improvement & Industrialization Engineer to drive operational excellence and support the industrialization of new products and processes. The successful candidate will be responsible for optimizing manufacturing performance, leading improvement initiatives, and ensuring a smooth transition from product development to serial production.

This position requires a strong combination of industrial engineering, lean manufacturing, process optimization, and project management skills.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives across production areas.
• Identify process inefficiencies and implement corrective actions to improve productivity, quality, cost, and delivery performance.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, Standard Work, SMED, and other Lean methodologies.
• Monitor and analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and develop action plans to achieve operational targets.
• Conduct root cause analysis using methodologies such as 5 Why, Ishikawa, 8D, FMEA, and DMAIC.
• Support the deployment of Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement culture throughout the organization.

Project Management

• Manage improvement and industrialization projects from concept to implementation.
• Develop project schedules, risk assessments, and mitigation plans.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to quality requirements.
• Report project progress and performance to management.

Skills and experience

• Master degree in production or equivalent Engineer with skills in Electronics / materials / processes
• Experience of 5 years in in Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), or Industrial Manufacturing.
• Driving continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles; Green Belt or Black Belt is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of APQP, or industry-specific quality systems.
• Experience with digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Power BI, Python, or Data Analytics.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).

What do we offer?.

• Free meals at the office.
• 28 business days of vacation.
• Pension plan.
• Individual training programs.
• Good working environment.
• The nature of this job requires on-site work most of the time, however smart working equipment & tools will be provided and, depending on the task at hand, teleworking and flexible working time can be agreed with the Core unit manager.

At Thales Alenia Space we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales Alenia Space employing around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US, our mobility policy enables employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth #SpaceForLife.