Vice President of Manufacturing

Karman Space & Defense; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a strategic leader to enhance manufacturing operations across multiple sites. This role involves optimizing resource allocation, driving efficiency initiatives, and ensuring top-notch quality and delivery performance. The successful candidate will collaborate with General Managers to implement advanced technologies and innovative manufacturing practices, aiming to boost profitability and operational excellence. With a focus on team development and cross-functional collaboration, this position offers a unique opportunity to impact the aerospace and defense sectors significantly. Join a forward-thinking company committed to excellence and innovation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in aerospace and defense industry required.
• Strong background in manufacturing and quality excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for manufacturing across all sites.
• Drive operational improvements and enhance labor and asset utilization.

Skills

Operational Improvement

Manufacturing Optimization

Leadership

Cost Analysis

Data-Driven Decision Making

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Advanced Manufacturing Solutions

Digital Transformation Tools

Job description

Summary

Provide executive leadership for Manufacturing across all sites, guiding General Managers to align strategy, optimize manufacturing operations, and ensure world-class quality and delivery performance. This includes boosting equipment and labor utilization, minimizing non-value-added activities, increasing first-pass yield, driving efficiency initiatives, and improving profitability. Implement advanced technologies, innovative software tools, and design-for-manufacturability practices. Assist with crafting and deploying digital transformation campaigns.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Responsible for manufacturing, quality, and supply chain excellence across Karman.

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with General Managers to devise strategies that drive operational improvements at individual sites and foster a culture of unified, cross-functional excellence.
• Support sales and business development in identifying new opportunities for POR and startup aerospace and defense companies.
• Go up the value chain by leveraging current capabilities and integrating new production technologies.
• Cultivate synergy, immense urgency, accountability, and a data-driven approach across all locations.

Operational Excellence

• Enhance overall labor and asset utilization by eliminating inefficiencies and optimizing resource allocation.
• Track and improve First Part Yield, Scrap, and delivered quality across Karman.
• Drive Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and capital asset performance by implementing solutions that reduce downtime and defects while increasing throughput.

Cost And Profitability

• Execute “should cost” analyses to minimize waste and enhance margins on ongoing and future programs.
• Incorporate advanced manufacturing solutions to improve “buy to fly” ratios and lower labor requirements.
• Evaluate design for manufacturability with the customer base to expedite lead times and decrease COGS.

Team Development

• Enable General Managers to scale and optimize their sites while cultivating high-performance teams.
• Build and deploy robust Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering groups dedicated to value engineering.
• Drive collaboration with Design Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to implement innovative solutions.
• Lead site operations on an interim basis during focused manufacturing optimization efforts if required.

MISSION

• Establish and accomplish targeted increases of equipment and labor utilization at each location.
• Achieve improvements in first-pass yield, total yield, and defect reduction while driving production efficiency.
• Realize cost savings and margin improvements through effective use of existing assets and personnel.
• Recruit and retain top talent by leveraging professional networks and informed sourcing strategies.
• Evaluate the return on investment for new technologies and integrate capabilities to bolster competitiveness.
• Foster a team practicing extreme ownership, a “better every day” mentality, and a sense of urgency.
• Maximize business profitability and growth through strategic leadership, tactical execution, and networking.

Education And Experience

• Required Education: B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Preferred Education: M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Preferred Experience: 10+ years in aerospace and defense industry
• Must be a U.S. Citizen