Northrop Grumman

Director, Process Excellence

Northrop Grumman

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Office

Location: Huntsville • Alabama • Maryland • United States

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Salary

💰 $176,100 - $305,900 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Develop and execute engineering driven, lean focused roadmap that delivers higher quality, higher productivity, lower cost, and safer workplaces
  • Lead the design, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and scale‑up of manufacturing processes, equipment, fixtures, and tooling for new products and product revisions
  • Own the NPI hand‑over from R&D to the shop floor, ensuring cost, cycle‑time, and yield targets are met
  • Drive retrofits, automation upgrades, and line redesigns that improve OEE and reduce change‑over time (SMED)
  • Create and maintain robust work instructions, SOPs, and process specifications
  • Perform takt‑time analysis, line balancing, and capacity modeling to meet forecast demand while minimizing labor and equipment bottlenecks
  • Design/optimize plant layouts, cellular manufacturing cells, and material flow for maximum efficiency and minimal handling
  • Use discrete‑event simulation, digital twin tools, and data analytics
  • Conduct time-studies, method-studies, and ergonomic assessments to set standard labor times and reduce fatigue
  • Create a 3‑year Lean transformation roadmap that aligns with corporate goals
  • Chair the Continuous‑Improvement Steering Committee, establish Kaizen teams, and enforce a standardized project‑charter and audit cadence
  • Oversee end‑to‑end value‑stream mapping, prioritize rapid‑improvement events
  • Maintain the CI scorecard (OEE, lead‑time, waste‑rate, cost‑per‑unit, ROI, training penetration) and present results to senior leadership monthly
  • Design and roll out a Lean Academy (Yellow, Green, Black Belt), mentor emerging CI champions
  • Deploy visual management, daily‑management systems, and communication campaigns
  • Develop business cases for CI projects, track benefits versus costs, and control the CI budget
  • Recruit, develop, and retain a high‑performing ME/IE/CI team

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree with 10 plus years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with 8 plus years of relevant experience
  • 10+ years progressive experience in manufacturing/industrial engineering
  • At least 5 years in a leadership role focused on lean/continuous improvement
  • Certified Lean Expert
  • Proven ability to lead cross‑functional, matrixed teams and to influence senior leadership without direct authority
  • Proven ability to build and maintain high performing teams
  • Proven ability to take ownership and be accountable with an “owners” mindset
  • Strong interpersonal skills, an exceptional self-starter attitude, and the ability to produce in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
  • Strong business/financial acumen, keen organizational skills, and excellent problem-solving ability
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance up to Top Secret
Benefits
  • health insurance coverage
  • life and disability insurance
  • savings plan
  • Company paid holidays
  • paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
lean manufacturingcontinuous improvementNPI hand-overOEEtakt-time analysisline balancingcapacity modelingvalue-stream mappingdiscrete-event simulationdata analytics
Soft Skills
leadershipinterpersonal skillsproblem-solvingorganizational skillsself-starter attitudeaccountabilityteam buildinginfluencing without authoritydynamic environment adaptabilityhigh-performing team development
Certifications
Bachelor's degreeMaster's degreeCertified Lean Expert