Manager, Industrial Engineering & Lean Transformation

AeroVironment, Inc.; Strathearn (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. seeks an experienced Manager of Industrial Engineering & Lean Transformation to design, implement, and optimize manufacturing systems while leading Lean initiatives across functions.

You will drive value stream efficiency, capacity planning, and strategic use of resources to improve output, cost, quality, and lead time. Responsibilities include developing time standards, leading capacity planning and line balancing, and guiding Kaizen events.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in high-mix, low-volume or complex production environments.
• 3+ years leading manufacturing teams in product development.
• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in process simulation tools, time studies, and data analytics.
• Strong leadership, project management and facilitation skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain time standards, labor models, and production layouts.
• Lead capacity planning, line balancing, and throughput optimization.
• Design and improve facility layouts, workstation ergonomics, and material flow.
• Conduct value stream mapping to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Lead Lean transformation initiatives using 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, SMED, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
• Deploy Lean Six Sigma to reduce variation, waste, and non-value-added activities.
• Facilitate cross-functional Kaizen events and improvement workshops.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Establish and track KPIs for productivity, efficiency, takt time, and OEE.
• Develop cost-benefit analyses for capital projects and process changes.
• Support factory modernization and digital manufacturing initiatives (e.g., MES, automation, real-time analytics).
• Partner with Product Development and NPI teams to drive DfM and scalability into new product designs.
• Train and mentor supervisors, engineers, and frontline teams in Lean principles.
• Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build Lean maturity roadmaps 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.
• Represent the Supplier Quality organization in high-level cross-functional meetings and executive updates.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Foster a continuous improvement culture within the supplier base and internal SQE team.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Time studies

Data analytics

Leadership

Project management

Travel up to 50%

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Process simulation tools

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description Summary

The Manager of Industrial Engineering & Lean Transformation is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing manufacturing systems and workflows, while leading Lean transformation initiatives. They drive value stream efficiency, capacity planning, and strategic use of resources, ensuring alignment with business goals related to output, cost, quality, and lead time.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain time standards, labor models, and production layouts.
• Lead capacity planning, line balancing, and throughput optimization.
• Design and improve facility layouts, workstation ergonomics, and material flow.
• Conduct value stream mapping to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Lead Lean transformation initiatives using tools like 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, SMED, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
• Deploy Lean Six Sigma methodologies to reduce variation, waste, and non-value-added activities.
• Facilitate cross-functional Kaizen events and improvement workshops across departments.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Establish and track KPIs for productivity, efficiency, takt time, and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).
• Develop cost-benefit analyses for capital projects and process changes.
• Support factory modernization and digital manufacturing initiatives (e.g., MES, automation, real-time analytics).
• Partner with Product Development and NPI teams to drive Design for Manufacturability (DfM) and scalability into new product designs.
• Train and mentor supervisors, engineers, and frontline teams in Lean principles.
• Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build Lean maturity roadmaps 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.
• Represent the Supplier Quality organization in high-level cross-functional meetings and executive updates.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards including AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Foster a continuous improvement culture within the supplier base and internal SQE team.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience in high-mix, low-volume, or complex production environments.
• Minimum of 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.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green/Black Belt) strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in process simulation tools, time studies, and data analytics.
• Strong leadership, project management, and facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-mix, low-volume production environment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (up to 50%).
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proven adaptability in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Strategic thinker who anticipates change and fosters team alignment.
• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a focus on shared success.
• Ownership-driven, continuously learning, and improvement-focused.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant).

Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent).

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required. Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Clearance Level No Clearance.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits. We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR Information

ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Salary

The salary range for this role is: $117,500 - $179,250 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR About AV

ITAR About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.