Process Improvement Engineer

Overview:

General Dynamics Electric Boat is one of the only two shipyards that produce submarines for the US Navy and there's never been a better time to join. The US Navy has a demand for cutting-edge naval capability and technology never seen before, and Electric Boat is the vanguard-designing, building, and maintaining the most advanced submarines in the world. Our work is mission-critical work in supporting the U.S. Navy and strengthening national security.

About D201 - Process Improvement Engineering

Our mission is to enable the success of the shipbuilders of Groton Shipyard to be safe and successful as they build and test the most advanced vessels in the US Navy. You will use techniques and strategies from Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Theory of Constraints, team facilitated problem solving, and culture transformation to create breakthrough improvements in span times, quality, and performance. You will guide organizations in developing and implementing improvement strategies and creating tangible & significant improvements.

Role Overview:

The successful candidate will be hands on with the shipbuilders and other organizations. You will see how submarines are made and facilitate teams of workers in solving the largest constraints. The methods will be logical, data driven, and collaborative.

Selected candidates will be responsible for the application of Lean Six Sigma principles to investigate, analyze and facilitate process change directly resulting in reduced lead times, improved quality, reduced costs, and improved safety within the manufacturing and outfitting areas at Groton.

One critical challenge the candidate will face is the massive amount of non-linear production where the manufacturing activities aren't the endless repeats of a few processes, but rather high levels of diversity in the work being performed. Selected candidates will take the foundational principles and tools of the various continuous improvement methodologies and expand them to solve issues around the massive amount of coordination in submarine production. This role will rarely be about optimizing linear (assembly line style) flow or local optimization, but high-mix, low volume and system coordination.

The selected applicants will receive training and certification in Lean Six Sigma in support of improving Electric Boat's business processes and alignment to Electric Boat's unique Continuous Improvement approach.

Responsibilities include:

Assist organizations in identifying, planning, and implementing Process Improvements and Lean Six Sigma Projects and ensure they align with company objectives
• Lead teams on projects to improve safety and quality, reducing cost, and improving schedule performance
• Give presentations to Managers & Directors
• Create Groton Operations Metric packages
• Facilitate and lead meetings with various leadership positions
• Fostering a culture of continuous improvement in the organization
• Work with leadership and employees on applying Lean and Six Sigma approaches to help achieve process excellence
• Provide mentorship to employees when leading change
• Identify and eliminate the barriers that prevent successful attainment of company's improvement goals

Selected candidates will demonstrate strong project management skills capable of progressing multiple projects at the same time while controlling project spans and delivering on objectives. The ability to work under minimal supervision and in a team environment. Candidates must be capable of combining assertive initiative while maintain stakeholder support to accomplish challenging tasks, work as Change Agents to remove barriers that hinder change, and earn the trust & respect of everyone from front-line employees, to supervision, to the leadership team, and our military and civilian Navy customers.

This position is located at the Groton, CT location.

Required:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• 4-year degree in science or business, OR 4+ years of Electric Boat experience
• 1+ years of project management skills with a working knowledge of the principles of analytical problem-solving techniques
• Candidate must successfully complete company provided Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt training, pass training course exams, and complete certification requirements to remain in this role
• Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance

Preferred:

• Training in Lean Manufacturing and/or Lean Six Sigma Black/Green Belt
• Experience with Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, or Toyota Production Systems is highly desired
• Experience in systems understanding and systems thinking
• Experience in team problem solving and/or change leadership initiatives
• Advanced proficiency with MS Office, specifically Excel (charts, pivot tables, comfortability with large data sets)
• Experience with project budgeting, cost estimating, scheduling, capturing & reporting savings is highly desired
• Knowledgeable in developing Continuous Improvement strategies and vision
• Prior Electric Boat relevant experience is preferred, prior Electric Boat Process Improvement Engineering/Lean Six Sigma Belt experience is desired

• Lead teams in Continuous Improvement projects that leverage team experience & creativity, and use logic and tools to improve the process. Lead the teams in developing and implementing their own solutions.
• Turn data into information, and develop drive data based decision making.
• Oral and written presentation skills including communicating with all levels from front line employees to the management team.
• An understanding of basic probability and statistics
• Excellent interpersonal skills and works well in a team environment
• Candidates must possess the professional discipline required to accomplish challenging tasks, and work as change agents to remove barriers that hinder change
• Strong interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills
• Persistent, patient, and kind
• Demonstrated ability to close out projects on-time with desired results
• Able to combine initiative with professionalism to accomplish difficult tasks
• Motivated, performance driven individual with strong leadership skills