Operations Engineer Senior Staff - Level 5

Lockheed Martin; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Parental Leave

EAP

Flexible Spending Accounts

Education Assistance

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Lockheed Martin in Palmdale, CA seeks an Operations Engineer Senior Staff to lead end‑to‑end improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma. You will create charters, analyze data, and collaborate with multiple functions to boost safety, quality, and productivity.

A strong track record in process improvement is essential. You will facilitate workshops, develop dashboards, and set measurable targets with executive oversight.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years in operations, project management, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, operations management, or related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is required.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DMAIC and VSM creation.
• Experience turning data into practical recommendations.
• Ability to develop plans, manage risks, and deliver results.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Kaizen events, value‑stream mapping, root‑cause analysis, and process workshops.
• Analyze operations and financial data; develop dashboards and KPI reports.
• Set baselines, targets, and KPIs for initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across functions to support engagement and readiness.
• Prepare performance updates and escalate risks to leadership.
• Assist in planning and layout of facilities and equipment.
• Conduct studies on cost control, inventory, and process times.
• Improve workflows and maximize utilization of facilities and personnel.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Kaizen

DMAIC/PDCA

RCCA

VSM creation

Data analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or related

Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering (preferred)

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification

PMP or equivalent project-management credential

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Minitab

SQL

Job description

Standard Job Description

What You Will Be Doing

As the Operations Engineer Senior Staff - Level 5 you will be responsible for creating comprehensive project charters, applying Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous‑improvement methodologies, and leading end‑to‑end initiatives that elevate safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Facilitate Kaizen events, value‑stream mapping, root‑cause analysis, and process‑mapping workshops to uncover improvement opportunities.
• Analyze operational and financial data to detect trends, variation, capacity constraints, and waste; develop dashboards and KPI reports.
• Establish baseline performance, set measurable targets, and define key performance indicators for each initiative.
• Collaborate with operational leaders, frontline staff, engineering, quality, supply chain, IT, HR, and other functions to support stakeholder engagement, communication, training, and readiness assessments.
• Prepare regular performance updates, reports, and recommendations for senior leadership; elevate risks and barriers that require executive support.
• Assist Manufacturing and Facilities engineers in the planning, design, modification and layout of facilities and equipment.
• Conduct studies pertaining to cost control, cost reduction, inventory control, engineering time studies, and process cycle times.
• Analyzing the sequence of operations and workflows to improve efficiencies in plant production facilities, administrative processes, facility and equipment layouts; and establishes methods for maximum utilization of production facilities and personnel.

What’s In It For You

We are committed to supporting your work‑life balance and overall well‑being, offering flexible scheduling options. Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s comprehensive benefits package here. If you have the passion and courage to dream big, work hard, and enjoy solving complex operational challenges, we want to build a better tomorrow with you.

Who You Are

You are a seasoned engineer with deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and end‑to‑end operational improvement. You bring analytical rigor, collaborative leadership, and a track record of delivering measurable results that enhance safety, quality, and productivity.

Further Information About This Opportunity

MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN -This position is located at a facility that requiresspecial access. The selected candidate must possess an active Interim Secretclearance to start.

Performs activities involving the producibility and quality of the product, and the processes that directly pertain, encompassing primarily one or more of the following engineering disciplines: failure analysis, industrial, manufacturing, manufacturing equipment, process, product, quality assurance, reliability, supplier quality, Lean Six Sigma, test, and tool.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of experience in operations, project management, process improvement, industrial engineering, or a related function.
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, operations management, or a related discipline.
• Certification as Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DMAIC, PDCA, RCCA, and VSM creation.
• Experience analyzing operational data and translating findings into practical recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop project plans, manage risks, coordinate resources, and deliver measurable results.
• Experience leading cross‑functional projects or process‑improvement initiatives.

Desired Skills

• Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, operations management, organizational leadership, or a related discipline.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project‑management credential.
• Change‑management certification, such as Prosci, CCMP, or an equivalent qualification.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with customers, management, and peers across all levels of an organization, including non‑technical personnel (from shop floor technicians to executive level).
• Experience with analytical and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Minitab, SQL, or equivalent applications.
• Experience coaching or training leaders and employees in Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methods.
• Experience implementing daily management systems, tiered accountability, strategy deployment, or Hoshin Kanri.
• Familiarity with automation, digital transformation, workflow technology, or business‑process management systems.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to work with ambiguity
• Self‑motivated

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $145100.00 - $269500.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well‑being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long‑term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non‑represented full‑time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.