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Description

We are seeking an experienced Continuous improvement Manager to establish and lead our ACES (Amazon Customer Excellence System) continuous improvement program within Amazon LEO's satellite manufacturing operations. This pivotal leadership role will build and implement the first ACES charter for satellite production, driving operational excellence and cultural transformation as we scale our manufacturing capabilities to deliver 3,236 satellites for Project Kuiper's mission of providing global broadband access.

As the founding manager of the LEO ACES team, you will build and lead a high-performing team responsible for implementing continuous improvement strategies across our satellite production operations. Your team will serve as the cornerstone for establishing a culture of operational excellence, driving data-driven improvements, and standardizing best practices in our manufacturing processes. This role combines technical leadership with change management, requiring someone who can both solve complex manufacturing challenges and inspire teams to embrace a continuous improvement mindset.

Working at the intersection of aerospace manufacturing and operational excellence, you will partner with cross-functional teams across hardware, software, manufacturing, quality, launch, and test organizations to deliver innovative solutions that increase production efficiency and quality. Your success in this role will be measured by your ability to build and scale the ACES program, drive measurable improvements in production metrics, and foster a sustainable culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

This role is based in Redmond, WA, and requires someone who embodies Amazon's Leadership Principles, particularly: Hire and Develop the Best, Earn Trust, Ownership, Insist on High Standards, and Think Big. Join us in shaping the future of satellite manufacturing while contributing to Project Kuiper's mission of bringing reliable internet connectivity to underserved communities worldwide.

Note: This position requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency due to ITAR regulations.

Key job responsibilities
The Manager for LEO ACES Continuous Improvement role is critical to Kuiper's mission of establishing and maintaining world-class satellite production capabilities. This role will pioneer the implementation of ACES methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) within satellite production, focusing on reducing production costs, minimizing waste, and optimizing manufacturing processes across our constellation production line. The position requires a strategic leader who can build and lead a team dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency through data-driven solutions and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in a highly technical environment.

A successful candidate should have proven experience leading impactful continuous improvement programs in advanced manufacturing settings, particularly in organizations transitioning from initial production to steady-state operations. You will be responsible for developing and implementing program charters that drive standardization and quality improvements across satellite production teams, while ensuring compliance with aerospace industry standards and ITAR regulations.

Your expertise in managing complex technical projects and leading rapid investigation initiatives will be essential for optimizing our satellite manufacturing processes. The role requires collaboration with multiple engineering disciplines, including RF, mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams, to create efficient mechanisms for improving Kuiper satellite production systems. You will establish DMAIC methodologies to track manufacturing performance, lead kaizen events, and implement lean manufacturing principles adapted specifically for satellite production.

The position involves building and leading a cross-functional team of continuous improvement specialists who will serve as change agents across our manufacturing facilities. You will be responsible for developing standard work procedures, implementing quality management systems, and ensuring that ACES methodologies are effectively integrated into our satellite production operations. This team will own delivering improvements that material impact the cost, quality and delivery of our satellite technology.

Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

A day in the life
In this dynamic role, you'll engage in a diverse range of daily activities that blend strategic thinking with hands-on problem-solving in the field of satellite manufacturing. A typical day may involve:

a) Managing an entitlement-based portfolio of improvement projects, prioritizing initiatives that offer the highest impact on production efficiency and quality. This includes regular project status reviews, resource allocation, and strategic planning sessions.

b) Balancing teams time between leading high-impact technical problem-solving sessions and fostering a lean culture from the ground up. You might start your day analyzing production data to identify bottlenecks, then transition to facilitating a kaizen event with cross-functional teams on the manufacturing floor.

c) Applying rigorous continuous improvement methodologies tailored to the unique challenges of satellite production. This could involve adapting Six Sigma or Lean principles to address issues in clean room environments or optimizing complex assembly processes.

d) Collaborating with cross-functional leaders from Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to drive positive results. You'll need to advocate effectively for both internal and external customers, pushing for improvements while maintaining positive relationships.

e) Tackling novel challenges unique to satellite manufacturing, such as optimizing processes for low-volume, high-complexity production or ensuring quality consistency across multiple satellite iterations.

f) Conducting gemba walks to observe processes firsthand, engaging with technicians and engineers to gather insights and identify improvement opportunities.

g) Developing and delivering training sessions on ACES methodologies, ensuring the team stays current with the latest continuous improvement techniques.

h) Analyzing complex datasets to uncover trends and opportunities for process optimization, then presenting findings and recommendations to senior leadership.

You'll face challenging, novel situations every day, working with multiple technical teams across different Amazon locations. The role demands comfort with ambiguity and enthusiasm for solving unprecedented problems at scale. As you navigate these challenges, you'll continuously learn, innovate, and make a tangible impact on the future of space technology and global connectivity.


About the team
Leo ACES team aims to enable successful production scaling. The vision of team is to enable success of end-to-end Kuiper operations team by proactively developing systems, processes, mechanisms, and tools that are required to detect issues, expose root cause, validate improvements, maintain controls, and drive operational rhythms.