Director of Operational Excellence

Job Description Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform all work onsite due to the nature of this particular role, it will be performed full-time on site. This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility 100% of the time.

Our employees work on the world’s most advanced electronics. At Electronic Systems, you’ll be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry’s most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we’re innovating for the future. And you can, too. We put our customers first – exemplified by our missions: “We Protect Those Who Protect Us®” and “We Innovate For Those Who Move The World™.” Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with BAE Systems.

This role drives integrated strategies that elevate safety, quality, cost, and delivery while cultivating a culture of disciplined problem‑solving and operational rigor. The director oversees the development of data‑driven systems and processes that strengthen decision‑making, transparency, and compliance across a 1,000‑person defense manufacturing facility. They collaborate closely with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams to align improvement initiatives with long‑term strategic objectives and customer commitments. Through strong leadership and effective change‑management, the director enables sustainable operational excellence and advances the factory’s mission.

• Lead Lean Six Sigma and CI initiatives: Kaizen events, 5S, VSM, FMEA, root cause analysis, and other best practices.
• Coach and mentor at all organization levels to instill a culture of continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Establish KPI tracking, dashboards, and ROI metrics to highlight impact, decision-making and operational performance

• Shape and execute an industrial engineering strategy that optimizes facility layout, throughput, takt time, labor standards, capacity planning, and simulation modeling.
• Elevate standardized work, visual management, and digital factory tools to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Design and implement training programs on Lean, Six Sigma, CI tools, industrial engineering, and compliance for all levels of the workforce.
• Establish Lean champions, CI practitioners, and cross-functional improvement teams.
• Oversee continual upskilling to maintain high standards in process discipline and data-driven thinking.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required (Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or related); Master’s or MBA preferred.
• Experience:
  • 12+ years in industrial/operations leadership in regulated or defense manufacturing environments.
  • Proven execution of CI initiatives with measurable outcomes in cost, quality, and productivity.
  • Demonstrated IE expertise: layout optimization, simulation, takt time, DFMA, and capacity modeling.
  • Strong background in compliance with standards like ITAR, AS9100, DFARS, and internal/external audits.
  • Experience building BI tools, cross-functional dashboards, and applying data insights in operations.
• Skills & Certifications:
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt (preferred); PMP or similar a plus.
  • Advanced proficiency with data analysis and BI tools.
  • Outstanding leadership, communication, facilitation, and change management skills.
• Security Requirements:
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident with ability to obtain Secret clearance (or higher).

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.