Six Sigma Program Manager — Aerospace Ops Leader

Howmet; Whitehall Township (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall, MI is seeking a seasoned Six Sigma Program Manager to lead the enterprise Lean Six Sigma program across Engine Products. You will develop Green Belt training, manage the project portfolio, and partner with manufacturing, engineering, and finance to deliver measurable financial and operational improvements.

The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing or continuous improvement and Black Belt certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, statistics, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years in manufacturing, engineering, quality, operational excellence, or continuous improvement.
• Minimum 5 years leading Lean Six Sigma initiatives or continuous improvement programs.
• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt from a recognized organization or equivalent demonstrated expertise.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional improvement projects that delivered measurable financial results.
• Strong knowledge of DMAIC methodology, statistical analysis, process capability, root cause analysis, DOE, and Lean principles.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, communication, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and execution of the Six Sigma program across all Howmet Engine Products manufacturing locations.
• Design, develop, and continuously improve Six Sigma Green Belt training curriculum, instructional materials, and certification requirements.
• Deliver engaging classroom, virtual, and hands-on Six Sigma training to engineers, operations leaders, and technical professionals.
• Coach, mentor, and certify Green Belt candidates through successful completion of DMAIC projects.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for Lean Six Sigma methodologies, statistical analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Manage the enterprise pipeline of Six Sigma projects, ensuring balanced project selection, prioritization, execution, and completion across all locations.
• Partner with plant leadership to identify high-value improvement opportunities aligned with strategic business objectives.
• Establish governance processes for project reviews, tollgate approvals, certification standards, and financial validation.
• Develop dashboards and executive reporting to monitor project status, financial impact, certification progress, and overall program health.
• Collaborate with finance to validate project savings and ensure consistent measurement of business impact.
• Standardize best practices, project documentation, templates, and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by engaging leaders and employees at all organizational levels.
• Identify opportunities to integrate digital tools, automation, AI, and advanced analytics into Six Sigma training and project execution.
• Support strategic operational initiatives focused on improving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, yield, and cost performance.
• Travel to manufacturing facilities as needed to facilitate training, coach project teams, and support improvement initiatives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

DMAIC methodology

Statistical analysis

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

Minitab

JMP

Power BI

ERP / MES systems

Job description

Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall, MI is seeking a seasoned Six Sigma Program Manager to lead the enterprise Lean Six Sigma program across Engine Products. You will develop Green Belt training, manage the project portfolio, and partner with manufacturing, engineering, and finance to deliver measurable financial and operational improvements.

The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing or continuous improvement and Black Belt certification.