Senior Production Lead – Lean Ops & Continuous Improvement

KLA; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

KLA is seeking a seasoned manufacturing leader in San Diego to manage production across assigned lines, uphold safety and quality, and ensure adherence to production plans. You will develop lean, cost‑efficient strategies, mentor a high‑performing team, and collaborate with engineering, supply chain, quality and R&D to resolve issues and implement improvements.

The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree in a technical field with at least seven years in manufacturing operations, including

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technically applicable field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 3 years in leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cycle time.
• Strong understanding of MES and ERP systems.
• Excellent leadership, mentoring, problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to collaborate across all levels.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead all production activities across assigned manufacturing lines, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, quality standards, and production plans.
• Develop and implement production strategies to optimize output, reduce costs, and improve efficiency through lean manufacturing principles and process automation.
• Set clear production goals and objectives, monitor performance against key metrics (e.g., OOBQ, yield, cycle time, OTD), and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate production personnel, fostering a high-performance team culture.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, quality, and R&D teams to resolve production issues, introduce new products, and improve existing processes.
• Implement and maintain robust quality control systems to ensure products meet KLA’s stringent quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through data analysis, root cause identification, and implementation of sustainable solutions.
• Continuation of Master Scheduler and Configuration Analyst duties until a qualified replacement is in place.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Communication

Data analysis

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MES

ERP

Job description

KLA is seeking a seasoned manufacturing leader in San Diego to manage production across assigned lines, uphold safety and quality, and ensure adherence to production plans. You will develop lean, cost‑efficient strategies, mentor a high‑performing team, and collaborate with engineering, supply chain, quality and R&D to resolve issues and implement improvements.

The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree in a technical field with at least seven years in manufacturing operations, including