Engineering IPT Leader

The Engineering IPT (Integrated Product Team) is a high-visibility leadership role accountable to lead the engineering effort associated with that Hull/Building. This includes engineers and designers, T&E and subcontractors. This position demands a highly proactive leader who can anticipate issues, communicate extremely effectively and execute action. This position will interface regularly with Manufacturing, Planning, and Materials leadership in the common goal of delivering high-quality ships for the least cost on schedule. The Engineering IPT Leader will ensure compliance with safety, quality, technical and performance standards, and collaborates closely with Manufacturing and Planning to align production efforts with broader organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership:
• Enforce safety policies and procedures, with a focus on housekeeping and personal safety.
• Lead initiatives to enhance workplace safety and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Contribute to hull management safety initiatives.
• Project Execution:
  • Manage the engineering and design activities on the assigned hull/building to address any and all engineering or production technical issues that restrict or impede the ability of manufacturing to construct the ships. This includes, but is not limited to, the management of the Burke Problem Tracker (BPT), Field Engineering Production Assist (FEPA) or similar process to ensure any design corrections or modifications are completed in sufficient time to support on time execution of work by Operations.
  • Manage the engineering and design effort to incorporate change into the shipbuilder products in sufficient time to support on time execution of work by Operations.
  • Attend the Hull MRR and be the Engineering representative.
  • Take and demonstrate ownership of the engineering product provided to manufacturing. Ensure there are no known technical defects to the technical products being delivered to manufacturing.
  • Drive solutions to all technical issues associated with the hull or building. This means:
    • Be fully knowledgeable of the details of the technical problem
    • Visit the site of the issue
    • Talk to the source
    • Understand the requirements/specifications
    • Solve the technical issue first
    • Communicate the issues promptly
    • Anticipate the questions
    • Anticipate the next steps
    • Follow through until operations is able to move forward
  • As one of the senior members of the hull management team, this position's responsibility extends beyond ensuring the engineering or design work is complete. This position is responsible for ensuring all the steps are complete in resolving the technical issue.
  • Anticipate problems. Proactively seek out the issues occurring on all other hulls. Put actions in place to address those issues with the least possible impact to your hull/building. Repeat issues from a previous hull should not occur.
  • Where BIW is dependent on a supplier to resolve a technical issue, work closely with procurement counterparts to ensure we are getting answers and actions in a timely manner
  • Build relationships with manufacturing counterparts.
  • Continuously identify and eliminate non-value-added activities and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce cost. Document and manage these improvements through the Operational Performance Improvement Plan process.
  • Make your commitments.
  • Execute duties with passion, vigor and integrity.
• Engineering Management:
  • Responsible for the technical oversight of ship equipment and interface with the suppliers on assigned hull/building.
• Training and Development:
  • Work with Director Waterfront Engineering to drive training programs as required to meet first-time product quality objectives.
  • Provide feedback and lessons learned to improve future planning and execution stages.
    
• Team Collaboration and Communication:
  • Ensure effective communication within the Engineering team and support groups.
  • Provide feedback to the Waterfront Engineering Discipline Managers to ensure staffing and development of the organization meet the needs of your area including maintenance and introduction of critical skills from a capability and capacity perspective.
  • Foster teamwork and collaboration among Engineers and Designers, support personnel, manufacturing, planning, IPT representatives, and external stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Champion BOS principles and productivity enhancements.
  • Streamline processes and improve safety, quality, and cost-efficiency.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or 20+ years Engineering/Design Experience.

• Demonstrated proactive leader. Evidence of being able to anticipate problems and take steps to resolve or avoid them. Ability to anticipates the next several steps of problem resolution.
• Minimum of 10 years working in Engineering and Design in positions of progressively increasing responsibility. Ship construction experience preferred.
• Excellent administrative skills: effective interpersonal skills, demonstrated skills in the areas of verbal and written communication, problem solving/decision making, conflict resolution, and organization required.
• Knowledge of Surface Combatant operation.
• Demonstrated understanding/implementation of LEAN manufacturing principles.
• Understanding engineering processes to help in build/operations problem solving.
• Exceptional people skills required. Demonstrated ability to get cooperation from engineering personnel, support personnel and manufacturing personnel in often high stress situations.
• Ability to represent BIW's position on various engineering and design, contractual and technical matters in a professional, courteous, yet assertive manner.
• Working knowledge of the various engineering activities performed on U.S. Navy surface combatants, naval architecture design and engineering discipline required.
• Demonstrated experience in new ship construction understanding Navy requirements, vendor technical management, component/equipment/system qualification, physical system integration, and test and trials.
• Demonstrated management, project coordination and leadership skills required. Strong written, oral communications and organizational skills required.
• Proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office products required.
• Ability and willingness to work in, and promote a true team environment.
• Successful experience in implementing and monitoring continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, improve quality, reduce cycle time, and reduce costs.