Lean Transformation Manager

AeroVironment, Inc.; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Manager of Operational Excellence in Simi Valley, CA to design, implement, and optimize the lean manufacturing strategy. You will lead value stream improvements, train teams, and deploy cost‑effective process changes to drive output, quality and lead time reductions.

The role requires 8+ years in complex assembly environments, 3+ years leading teams, and travel up to 50%. You will report to operations leadership and partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related experience in complex assembly production environments.
• 3+ years of successfully leading manufacturing teams within a product development environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Proficiency in process simulation tools, time studies, and data analytics.
• Strong leadership, project management, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own lean manufacturing implementation across all business units using lean tools and concepts.
• Develop & maintain lean training tools, content, training boot camps, workshops, kaizen & project management funnels.
• Standardize problem solving methodology, draft accompanying training content and deployment strategy.
• Conduct and lead value stream mapping activities to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Own the implementation and execution of value stream tracking centers at all business units.
• Deploy Lean methodologies to reduce variation, waste, and non-value-added activities.
• Facilitate cross-functional Kaizen events and improvement workshops across departments and business units.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Establish visual and daily management systems with appropriate KPI tracking for performance management at various levels and departments.
• Develop cost-benefit analyses for capital projects and process changes.
• Develop, train and mentor supervisors, engineers, and front line teams in lean manufacturing principles.
• Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build lean maturity road maps and assess organizational readiness for transformation.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to align lean initiatives with business objectives.
• Interface with executive leadership to report lean transformation progress, ROI, and impact.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards including AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Work collaboratively with local teams & foster a continuous improvement culture within all business units.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Process simulation

Data analytics

Leadership

Project management

Travel up to 50%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Job description

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Manager of Operational Excellence in Simi Valley, CA to design, implement, and optimize the lean manufacturing strategy. You will lead value stream improvements, train teams, and deploy cost‑effective process changes to drive output, quality and lead time reductions.

The role requires 8+ years in complex assembly environments, 3+ years leading teams, and travel up to 50%. You will report to operations leadership and partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply