Operations Engineering Manager

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This role is at Spirit Aero Systems, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, supporting Spirit’s Commercial Business Units (“Spirit Commercial”). Spirit Commercial designs and builds commercial aerostructures for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, one of Boeing’s three business units and the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for decades. Spirit Commercial’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components, with a focus on innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions.

The group you will join, Operations Engineering Management – P&IE is responsible for leading Operations, Quality, and Safety planning and other operational execution activities. This role focuses on ensuring our systems are optimized to meet throughput, delivery, and recovery requirements across commercial, defense, aftermarket, and internal Boeing programs.

You will manage an extended team of twelve, including four mechanical and manufacturing engineers (direct reports) and eight operations support professionals.

You will also create, develop, and oversee the implementation of new manufacturing build plans, conduct root cause analysis, monitor quality and safety activities, and mentor your team. This new high-visibility role will require at least half of your time on the factory floor, in addition to office work. There will be opportunities to expand your strengths in this dynamic, ever-evolving environment.

• Manage professional engineers and operations support staff who focus on best practices for manufacturing operations, including process improvement, quality, and safety.
• Develop new manufacturing build plans, conduct root cause analysis and other necessary activities, as an owner of the manufacturing process.
• Enforce policies and procedures that may affect sections and subordinate work units.
• Use competency to complete tasks with little to no oversight, while communicating cross-functionally to ensure goals and outcomes are achieved.
• Manage multiple tasks to successful closure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ensure that direct reports can meet critical schedule deadlines.
• Interact effectively across all levels of leadership and staff.
• Lead a team including Production Engineers and professional union-represented employees.
• Interact across all levels of the organization; efficiently and effectively communicate and execute the manufacturing plan and schedule, implement agreed-upon changes; navigate difficult situations and conversations to a productive outcome.
• Lead team in developing solutions to complex problems which require the consistent use of manufacturing best practices.
• Apply knowledge of tools used in the manufacturing process to ensure lean practices, improve quality, and ensure consistent application of safety practices.
• Experience utilizing production metrics to make informed decisions and drive results.
• Develop, control, and manage effective build plans and communicate progress to senior leadership.

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Aerospace, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, or a relevant discipline.
• 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing production environment.
• Critical thinking skills and analytical abilities to develop effective solutions to assembly operations problems, including troubleshooting.
• Ability to manage projects and to lead and participate in cross-functional teams to accomplish engineering initiatives, in a team environment, interact with multiple disciplines and levels of management.
• Ability to communicate effectively, act decisively, and to demonstrate innovation and resourcefulness.
• Knowledge of business and production metrics, structures, and reporting.
• Knowledge of standard business software including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints.
• Knowledge of SAP or other large-scale MRP systems.