Sr. Manager, Business Excellence

Axiom; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom is seeking a Sr. Business Excellence Manager in Milpitas, CA to lead a team driving Lean transformation and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.

You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. The role emphasizes data-driven decision-making, governance, and sustaining improvements through Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related fields.
• 3+ years in leadership roles managing engineers, analysts, technicians, or CI professionals.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; MBA or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Business Excellence Leaders and Technicians to drive manufacturing performance.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives across sites.
• Develop and govern standard work, visual management, and KPI dashboards.
• Drive labor productivity, cycle time reduction, and cost optimization.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management.
• Lead Kaizen events and cross-functional problem-solving teams.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen Facilitation

Value Stream Mapping

Industrial Engineering

Root Cause Analysis

Capacity Planning

Productivity Improvement

Operational Excellence

Green Belt

Black Belt preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field

Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering Management, or related discipline) preferred

Tools

Statistical analysis tools

Dashboards / BI tools

Job description

• Direct Labor Efficiency (DLE)

Axiom builds the digital and electrical infrastructure powering the AI era. We design, build and deploy integrated power, thermal and compute solutions that help data centers, utilities and innovators scale faster, operate more efficiently and meet growing demand.

Built on decades of manufacturing expertise, global operations and a proven ability to deliver complex systems at scale, Axiom combines innovation with real-world execution. We're helping close the gap between what the future demands and what the world can deliver.

At Axiom, you'll take on meaningful challenges, be trusted with real responsibility, and work alongside people who value candor, collaboration, and continuous learning.

To support our extraordinary teams who build great products and contribute to our growth, we're looking to add a Sr. Business Excellence Manager located in Milpitas, California.

Report to the Operations Director. The Business Excellence Manager will lead a team of Business Excellence Leaders and Business Excellence Technicians responsible for driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, Lean transformation, process standardization, and productivity enhancement across manufacturing operations supporting L06, L10, and L11 manufacturing environments. This role serves as a strategic partner to Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams to improve operational performance, capacity, quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction.

The ideal candidate will act as a change agent, driving a culture of continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, Industrial Engineering, and data-driven decision-making while ensuring sustainable business results aligned with customer and organizational objectives.

What a typical day looks like:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Business Excellence Leaders and Technicians to support manufacturing operations and strategic improvement initiatives.
• Lead Kaizen events and couch new lean six sigma practitioners
• Engage organization in a Continuous Improvement culture
• Partner with Operations leadership to drive performance improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and Productivity metrics.
• Lead site-wide Continuous Improvement programs, Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping activities, and operational transformation initiatives.
• Establish and govern standard work, best practices, visual management systems, and performance management processes across manufacturing operations.
• Drive labor productivity, capacity optimization, direct labor efficiency, cycle time reduction, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Support programs by improving manufacturing scalability, operational readiness, and execution excellence.
• Lead cross-functional teams in root cause analysis, corrective actions, and sustainable problem-solving efforts using Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
• Identify and eliminate operational waste while improving material flow, factory utilization, and process efficiency.
• Develop operational dashboards, KPIs, and business intelligence tools to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitate Continuous Improvement Maturity Assessments and develop action plans to close identified gaps.
• Drive digital transformation and Industry 4.0 initiatives through automation, data analytics, and smart manufacturing solutions.
• Support capacity planning, factory expansion, production ramp activities, and new product introductions programs.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to improve end-to-end value streams.
• Champion the deployment of Flex Lean Enterprise principles and drive Yokoten implementation of best practices across the site.
• Lead annual strategic planning initiatives related to operational excellence and business performance improvement.
• Present business performance, project updates, and operational improvement strategies to site leadership and customer stakeholders.
• Ensure sustainability of improvements through governance mechanisms, audits, controls, and operational reviews.

The Experience We're Looking To Add To Our Team

• Typically requires 8+ years of experience in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business Excellence, Operations Excellence, Lean Transformation, or a related field.
• Minimum 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineers, analysts, technicians, or continuous improvement professionals.
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering Management, or related discipline) preferred.
• Proven track record leading Lean transformations and delivering measurable operational improvements.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Six Sigma
  • Kaizen Facilitation
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Capacity Planning
  • Productivity Improvement
  • Operational Excellence
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing senior leadership.
• Strong analytical and business acumen with the ability to translate data into actionable business decisions.
• Proficiency with manufacturing KPIs, dashboards, business intelligence, and statistical analysis tools.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Green Belt certification required; Black Belt certification preferred.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing business cases, ROI analysis, and cost reduction strategies.

Preferred Metrics Ownership

This role is expected to influence and improve:

• Labor Productivity
• Direct Labor Efficiency (DLE)
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Manufacturing Cycle Time
• Capacity Utilization
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO)
• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Inventory Turns
• Cost Reduction and Productivity Savings
• Throughput Performance
• Factory Utilization
• Continuous Improvement Maturity Scores

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Change Leadership
• Customer Focus
• Results Orientation
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Team Development and Coaching
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Executive Communication
• Problem Solving
• Continuous Improvement Mindset

AC29

Axiom is an Equal Opportunity Employer and employment selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate based on: age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, pregnancy status, or any other status protected by law. We're happy to provide reasonable accommodations to those with a disability for assistance in the application process. Please email [e-mail] and we'll discuss your specific situation and next steps (NOTE: this email does not accept or consider resumes or applications. This is only for disability assistance. To be considered for a position at Axiom, you must complete the application process first).