The Director 1 Process Excellence leader is the senior champion for Manufacturing Engineering (ME), Industrial Engineering (IE), and Continuous Improvement (CI), specifically Lean Manufacturing across our production network. Reporting to the VP of Quality, Manufacturing and Infrastructure, this role develops and executes the engineering driven, lean focused roadmap that delivers higher quality, higher productivity, lower cost, and safer workplaces. The incumbent works hand-in-hand with site, division and sector manufacturing, product development, quality, supply chain, and IT across several sites to embed lean principles and manufacturing / Industrial engineering best practices into every step of the value streamāfrom concept to high volume production.
Sector QM&I Director, Process Excellence responsibilities: Ā
Manufacturing Engineering
⢠Process Design & ScaleāUp ā Lead the design, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and scaleāup of manufacturing processes, equipment, fixtures, and tooling for new products and product revisions.
⢠Technology Transfer ā Own the NPI handāover from R&D to the shop floor, ensuring cost, cycleātime, and yield targets are met.
⢠Equipment Optimization ā Drive retrofits, automation upgrades, and line redesigns that improve OEE and reduce changeāover time (SMED).
⢠Standardization ā Create and maintain robust work instructions, SOPs, and process specifications that are the āsingle source of truthā for production.
Industrial Engineering
⢠Capacity Planning & Line Balancing ā Perform taktātime analysis, line balancing, and capacity modeling to meet forecast demand while minimizing labor and equipment bottlenecks.
⢠Facility Layout & Flow ā Design/optimize plant layouts, cellular manufacturing cells, and material flow (valueāstream mapping) for maximum efficiency and minimal handling.
⢠Simulation & Digital Twins ā Use discreteāevent simulation, digital twin tools, and data analytics to evaluate āwhatāifā scenarios before physical changes are made.
⢠Work Study & Motion Analysis ā Conduct timeāstudies, methodāstudies, and ergonomic assessments to set standard labor times and reduce fatigue.
Lean Manufacturing (Continuous Improvement)
People & Culture
⢠Recruit, develop, and retain a highāperforming ME/IE/CI team (engineers, analysts, facilitators).
⢠Mentor plant leaders and frontāline teams in lean thinking, dataādriven decision making, and change management.
⢠Create a ācontinuousāimprovement as a habitā culture measured by participation rates and sustained gains.
Data, Metrics & Digital Enablement
⢠Define the KPI set for ME, IE, and Lean (OEE, SCRAP, FirstāPass Yield, Labor Hours per Unit, Changeāover Time).
⢠Integrate MES/ERP data streams into realātime dashboards; ensure data integrity for decision making.
⢠Champion the use of advanced analytics (statistical process control, predictive maintenance, AI) to preāempt losses.
Financial Stewardship
⢠Build business cases (ROI, payback) for all engineering and lean projects; track actual savings vs. target.
⢠Partner with Finance to embed process costs into product costing and margin analysis.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
⢠Embed EHS and Quality requirements (ISO/TS, GMP, IATF) into every process design and lean activity.
⢠Conduct risk assessments (PFMEA, Process Hazard Analysis) and drive corrective actions promptly.
The successful candidate will possess the following competencies and skills:
Basic Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
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Primary Level Salary Range: $176,100.00 - $305,900.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disabilityngc