Operational Excellence Engineer

Position Title: Operational Excellence Engineer

Requisition : 1817

Position Location: Fairfax, VA OR Sterling, VA

Position

Reports To:

Manager, Operational Efficiency

Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems, we believe that strong engineering principles are fundamental to driving innovation and solving complex problems. We promote a culture characterized by rigorous engineering practices and a commitment to continuous improvement. This is achieved by leveraging our organization's collective expertise through collaborative development processes, which include thorough design and peer reviews. We can deliver innovative, high-performance solutions that meet our customers' evolving requirements by integrating our specialized knowledge in aerospace electronic systems with appropriately scaled development methodologies.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

The Operational Excellence Process Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization by partnering with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, facilitate process improvement projects, and implement sustainable operational solutions. This role serves as a coach and facilitator, guiding teams through structured improvement methodologies while ensuring project objectives, timelines, and deliverables are clearly defined and successfully executed.

This is an individual contributor role with no direct supervisory responsibilities. Success in this position requires strong collaboration, project facilitation, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Lead and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Partner with departmental leaders to identify process improvement opportunities that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings, workshops, and project teams to drive consensus and maintain project momentum.
• Define project scope, objectives, timelines, milestones, risks, and expected business outcomes.
• Document current-state and future-state processes using process maps, value stream maps, and standard work documentation.
• Track project progress, maintain project documentation, and communicate status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Collect and analyze operational data to identify trends, measure improvements, and validate project results.
• Support change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication, and training as new processes are implemented.
• Ensure successful transition of completed improvement projects to departmental owners by developing documentation, performance measures, and sustainability plans.
• Coach employees and project teams on continuous improvement principles and problem-solving techniques.
• Participate in the development and maintenance of operational excellence standards, tools, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities to standardize processes across departments and improve organizational efficiency.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading or facilitating process improvement projects
• Strong facilitation and communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio or other process mapping software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to execute tasks independently.

• Lean or Six Sigma Certification
• Experience with project management methodologies and tools.
• Experience working within manufacturing, distribution, logistics,…