Head of ME Lineside Support

Prestwick Aerosystems; Kinston (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Aerosystems Kinston is seeking a Head of ME Lineside Support to lead the Manufacturing Engineering Lineside Shop Support team in Kinston, NC. You will ensure efficient operations and alignment with production plans, providing the correct tooling and equipment as needed.

The role will drive continuous improvement, interact with senior stakeholders on site strategy, ramp-ups, and lean initiatives, and promote a safety-first culture across the plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an ABET engineering program.
• Minimum of 15 years relevant engineering experience in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Strong background in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering with Lean manufacturing knowledge.
• Working knowledge of SAP, MES and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Management (25%): plan future needs of ME LSS & Work Prep, manage budgets, drive safety culture.
• Manufacturing Support and Supply (25%): ensure proper tooling/equipment, deploy assets, plan capacity.
• Team Management (40%): lead ME LSS & Work Prep, maintain quality, develop team, conduct reviews.
• Other duties: implement strategy changes and collaborate across functions.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Project management

Quality management

English proficiency

Education

ABET engineering program

Tools

SAP

MES

Job description

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at [e-mail] Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (English) Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish)

Job Description:

Airbus Aerosystems Kinston is looking for a Head of ME Lineside Support to join our team based in Kinston, NC. The management and leadership of the Manufacturing Engineering Lineside Shop Support team, ensuring that the team perform their role in an efficient and effective manner, supporting the manufacturing teams throughout the plant. Ensure that the Manufacturing Engineering team provides the correct tooling and equipment as and when required by the manufacturing teams to meet production plans. Identify improvement opportunities to the existing plant, equipment and tooling and assist with the development and implementation of these opportunities. The role will be recognised as a lead in promoting an environment where Kinston plant is recognised as a leading manufacturer of aircraft parts. The successful candidate will gain significant exposure to a range of plant strategic topics (Eg. ramp-up and future site strategy) and will have the opportunity to interact with senior internal and external stakeholders, as well as gaining operations experience in an industrial environment.

Meet the Team:

Our team at Airbus Aerosystems Kinston manufactures crucial aircraft components. On the shop floor you’ll be surrounded by individuals who are passionate about aviation and skilled in areas like electrical, structure and quality. Join our team and help build the next generation of aircraft.

Your Working Environment:

The Airbus Aerosystems Kinston facility sits at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing, specializing in the production of large, advanced composite aerostructures. Our team builds critical components for the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 XWB, including the composite center fuselage and wing spar.

How We Care for You:

Financial Rewards:

Competitive pay, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).

Work/Life Balance:

Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a paid parental leave program.

Health & Welfare:

Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.

Individual Development:

Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path; as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes; and both national and international mobility.

Your Challenges:

1. Strategic Management (25%) Accountable for planning future needs of the ME LSS & Work Prep team to ensure operational requirements are fully met. Utilise a robust Risk Management process, enabling the team to identify risks and opportunities within the organisation. So that informed decisions mitigating such risks and enabling such opportunities to benefit the Kinston plant. Monitor and control financial budgets, ensuring value for money and effectively control expenditure. Be a ‘champion for safety’, driving a ‘safety first’ culture throughout the ME team and within the wider Kinston Plant community. Assist in the continuous improvement strategy, ensuring the ME team are involved in delivering improvement to productivity and quality across the plant.
2. Manufacturing Support and Supply (25%) Maintain and improve lineside support to the Manufacturing teams, providing the correct tooling and equipment required to meet production plans. Ensure plant assets and tooling are deployed, with the latest up to date technology, to maintain and increase production levels throughout the manufacturing operations. Planning resource capacity to meet manufacturing requirements and tool and equipment maintenance schedules. Identify improvement opportunities to existing plant, equipment and tooling and assist with the development and implementation of these opportunities. Promoting such new technologies & philosophies developed for use in the plant to the wider Airbus organisation Ensure that the Airbus Industrial System engineering philosophy is followed and executed within the Kinston facility.
3. Team Management [40%) Lead and manage The ME LSS & Work Prep team, ensuring industrial performance is maintained and improved through teamworking and motivation in daily activities. Ensure the quality of work throughout the team is maintained, monitored and improved where possible. Maintain a Quality Management System which ensures compliance, providing standardised ways of working. Organise regular team governance reviews, driving a culture of recognition, accountability, and continuous improvement. Planning resource training requirements to Ensure team members maintain the up to date knowledge to implement the key working practices required in supporting Kinston plant. Ensure the Airbus people tempo is deployed, recruiting, monitoring, developing and recognising team performance. Provide excellence in leadership to team members, providing responsibility over performance reviews and recruitment.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Promote a customer-focused mindset and act as a change leader within the Manufacturing Engineering organization.
• Work in conjunction with the wider ME team, technical shop support and planning team, to ensure manufacturability and smooth industrialization.
• Oversee structural and systems installation activities, ensuring compliance with engineering requirements.
• Interpret, verify, and validate engineering drawings and documentation.
• Respond to and resolve technical queries from various departments and stakeholders.
• Synthesize complex technical scenarios and present clear, concise updates to multiple levels of management.
• Develop and define manufacturing and assembly strategies for aircraft components.
• Specify and validate tools and equipment required to ensure geometric tolerances and process efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with all site functions (engineering, materials logistics, quality, and production teams) to implement strategy changes effectively.
• Other duties as assigned by the management.

Your Boarding Pass:

• Bachelors degree from an ABET engineering program
• Minimum of 15 years relevant engineering experience within a Manufacturing Engineering environment.
• Strong background in Manufacturing or Industrial / Manufacturing Engineering with a knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles.
• Strong understanding of metallic & composite manufacturing techniques & treatment processes.
• Working knowledge and application of Business management systems (BMS) and Quality management systems (QMS).
• Self-driven with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Strong teamworking and relationship building skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and problem-solving ability.
• Proven record of providing excellent internal and external customer service.
• Experience in manufacturing technology implementation.
• Experience in lean manufacturing / continuous improvement environment.
• Excellent command of English (spoken & written).
• Working knowledge of Manufacturing Engineering tool sets (SAP, MES Etc).
• 15% Domestic and International travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred Masters degree from an ABET engineering program
• Detailed knowledge of design methods both on 2D and 3D design platforms with excellent drawing/design interpretation skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of the Microsoft Suite - Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook or equivalent.
• General knowledge of FAA, EASA and ICAO preferred.
• Basic Spanish and / or French (spoken).
• Citizenship: Authorised to work in the US.

Physical Requirements:

• Vision: Daily able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings.
• Hearing: Able to hear daily to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms.
• Speaking: Daily able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications.
• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): Daily able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts.
• Carrying: Occasionally able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Lifting: Occasionally able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Pushing / Pulling: Occasionally able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.
• Sitting: Daily able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer.
• Squatting / Kneeling: Occasionally able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.
• Standing: Daily able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor.
• Travel: 15% able to travel independently and at short notice.
• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): Daily able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.

Personal Protective Equipment required:

Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site.

Administrative position only PPE required:

Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the production floor.

Equal Opportunity:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status As a leader in our field, Airbus provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. NOTE: Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company Information and Policies:

Company: Airbus Aerosystems Kinston, Inc Employment Type: US - Direct Hire Experience Level: Professional Remote Type: On-site Job Family: ------ ------ Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail]. Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide. From sending your resume to participating in successful interviews, here you can access all important pieces of information to guide you in your candidate journey.

Learn more