MRO Process Improvement Engineer

VSE Aviation; Independence (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

VSE Aviation seeks a Process Improvement Engineer to lead initiatives that boost operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction at the Independence, KS facility. You will focus on improving turnaround time, throughput, quality, and cost efficiency while ensuring FAA/EASA Part 145 and OEM compliance.

The role requires deep knowledge of shop-level operations, test systems, and component-level workflows, with collaboration across engineering, quality, and technicians to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field or 3 years of related experience in lieu of degree.
• 5 years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of accessory repair operations (mechanical, hydraulic, electrical components).
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and data.

Responsibilities

• Review discrepancies between technical data and part condition, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
• Track, analyze, and report on non-conformances, using data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Lead root cause analysis to address process-related issues, developing and recommending corrective actions.
• Implement corrective actions and continuously monitor the impact to ensure long-term effectiveness.
• Create and update work instructions, including part routings and operation sheets, to reflect process improvements.
• Effectively communicate corrective action plans, progress, and results to stakeholders at all levels within the organization.
• Research and implement innovative technologies and processes to enhance company capabilities and drive innovation.
• Serve as a liaison with vendors, suppliers, and customers to support continuous improvement efforts.
• Analyze end-to-end component repair workflows (receiving, teardown, inspection, repair, assembly, test, and release).
• Identify bottlenecks in shop processes such as teardown, piece-part repair, and test stand utilization.
• Improve test stand utilization (automation), capacity planning, and scheduling efficiency.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on failures, repeat discrepancies, and no-fault-found (NFF) events.
• Develop and maintain process maps, routing structures, and standard work instructions.
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, and technicians.
• Support implementation and optimization of MRO systems (e.g., ERP, MES, TRAX, AMOS, SAP).
• Ensure all improvements comply with FAA/EASA regulations and OEM manuals (CMMs).
• Track KPIs such as TAT, first-pass yield (FPY), test yield, and labor efficiency.
• Support the culture of continuous improvement by mentoring and coaching teams on Lean principles and methodologies.

Skills

Process improvement

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

3 years of related experience in lieu of degree

Tools

ERP systems (e.g., SAP)

MES

TRAX

AMO S

Job description

VSE Aviation seeks a Process Improvement Engineer to lead initiatives that boost operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction at the Independence, KS facility. You will focus on improving turnaround time, throughput, quality, and cost efficiency while ensuring FAA/EASA Part 145 and OEM compliance.

The role requires deep knowledge of shop-level operations, test systems, and component-level workflows, with collaboration across engineering, quality, and technicians to