Lead Continuous Improvement & Lean in Aerospace

Howmet Aerospace; Brea (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k matching

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace in Brea, CA is seeking a Sr. Manager, Continuous Improvement to lead a small team of CI engineers. You will drive lean manufacturing, safety, quality, delivery, and cost across all lines, applying HBS methods to improve throughput and productivity.

You will mentor leaders, set goals, and deliver cross-functional workshops, Kaizen events, and dashboards for SQDC metrics. This role demands 7+ years in high-volume settings with strong leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering.
• 7+ years in high-volume manufacturing with leadership experience.
• Experience in fastening, aerospace, or precision manufacturing preferred.
• U.S. work authorization; visa sponsorship not available.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and mentor a cross-functional improvement team.
• Set quarterly goals, conduct performance reviews, and develop career paths.
• Foster a high-performance culture of accountability and ownership.
• Own Kaizen, Value-Stream Mapping, 5S, Standard Work, and SMED across lines.
• Lead projects targeting 10-15% waste reduction per year.
• Champion digital tools for real-time KPI tracking.
• Translate plant objectives into measurable improvement roadmaps.
• Align initiatives with safety, quality, and cost targets.
• Provide quarterly status reports to senior leadership.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Facilitate cross-functional improvement workshops and Kaizen events.
• Act as liaison for external Lean consultants and auditors.
• Design and maintain dashboards for SQDC metrics.
• Own root-cause process and ensure corrective actions close on time.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or industrial engineering

Tools

Minitab

LeanKit

Job description

Howmet Aerospace in Brea, CA is seeking a Sr. Manager, Continuous Improvement to lead a small team of CI engineers. You will drive lean manufacturing, safety, quality, delivery, and cost across all lines, applying HBS methods to improve throughput and productivity.

You will mentor leaders, set goals, and deliver cross-functional workshops, Kaizen events, and dashboards for SQDC metrics. This role demands 7+ years in high-volume settings with strong leadership.