Director, Manufacturing Engineering- Capacity Expansion

About L3Harris

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Description

Missile Solutions, an L3Harris Technologies Company, is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Engineering to lead our $4B capacity expansion initiative. This is a builder role for someone who has successfully stood up factories, production lines, and manufacturing operations. You will be the driving force behind transforming strategic growth plans into operational reality across multiple sites, with minimal oversight and maximum autonomy.

Not a traditional chief engineer role — this position will lead the engineering efforts to design, build and commission factories of the future. While not a direct people manager, this technical leader will be responsible for directing cross-functional engineering teams across multiple locations, the role will drive engineering rigor through aggressive timelines to bring capacity online urgently for the warfighter.

Essential Functions

Build & Activate Manufacturing Capacity:

• Lead the design, construction, and activation of new manufacturing facilities and production lines to support $4B in growth
• Establish greenfield and brownfield manufacturing operations with full accountability for schedule, budget, and performance
• Drive facility layout design, equipment specification and procurement, and production system implementation
• Own the transition from concept through commissioning to full-rate production

Lead Cross-Functional Execution:

• Serve as the single point of accountability for manufacturing expansion across multiple sites
• Drive alignment between Operations, Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Quality organizations
• Lead large, matrixed teams (40+ people) through complex facility and production line stand-ups
• Make rapid decisions with incomplete information to maintain momentum on critical path activities

Optimize Manufacturing Operations:

• Implement lean manufacturing principles to minimize waste, maximize flow, and optimize space/equipment/personnel utilization
• Develop and deploy production processes for Solid Rocket Motor manufacturing
• Establish management control systems and metrics to drive performance and continuous improvement
• Identify and execute cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining quality and safety standards

Manage Stakeholder Relationships:

• Interface with executive leadership, program managers, and external stakeholders on expansion progress

• Lead Change Board Reviews and provide technical briefs on manufacturing capabilities and constraints

• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies to prevent delays in capacity activation

• Support cost estimating and validation for new facility and production line investments

• Travel: 25%- 50%.

• Ability to obtain a US Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 15 years of prior manufacturing experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 13 years of prior manufacturing experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 19 years of prior manufacturing experience.
• 8 years leading manufacturing facility construction and production line activation projects (greenfield or major brownfield expansions).
• Proven track record of standing up at least 2 major manufacturing facilities or production lines from concept to full operation.
• Demonstrated experience leading large cross-functional teams (40+ people) with accountability for schedule, budget, and performance outcomes.
• Experience managing capital projects $50M+ from design through commissioning.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Active US Secret Security Clearance is preferred.
• Solid Rocket Motor or aerospace/defense manufacturing experience highly desired.
• Experience with DoD manufacturing facilities and compliance requirements is preferred.
• Project management certification (PMP) or equivalent is preferred.
• Cost account management and P&L responsibility.
• Experience with ERP/MES system implementations.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt preferred).
• Background in industrial engineering, facilities engineering, or manufacturing engineering.