Assembly Manager

at The Atlas Group in Wichita, Kansas, United States

Job Description

The Assembly Manager will lead commercial aerospace assembly to recover schedule performance and establish consistent, reliable production flow. This role owns day-to-day execution on the factory floor, removes constraints, and partners cross-functionally to deliver safe, compliant, high-quality output. The Assembly Manager ensures production plans are achievable, issues are escalated and resolved quickly, and performance is sustained through disciplined operating rhythms and continuous improvement.

• Production Execution & Schedule Recovery

  • As the Assembly Manager, own daily production execution against the master schedule and customer commitments.
  • Drive recovery plans for past-due and at-risk orders, including sequencing, staffing alignment, and escalation of constraints.
  • Lead daily production meetings and tiered accountability (SQDC or similar) to track progress, drive actions, and remove blockers.
  • Ensure accurate, timely updates to build status, priorities, and estimated completion dates.
  • Communicate risks, constraints, and recovery actions with clear owners, due dates, and expected impact.
  • Provide concise production status updates and KPI dashboards to leadership (schedule, backlog, constraints, quality, labor).
  • Escalate critical issues early and drive timely closure to protect customer commitments and delivery dates.

  Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

  • Improve throughput, predictability, and labor productivity through Lean/flow principles (standard work, visual management, 5S, line balancing).
  • Identify and eliminate bottlenecks; improve handoffs, kitting/material readiness, and work order readiness.
  • Strengthen training and cross-training to improve flexibility and reduce single-point dependencies.
  • Partner with Planning and Supply Chain to align priorities, improve material readiness, and support schedule recovery execution.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready work environment.

  Quality & Compliance (Aerospace Standards)

  • Ensure assembly operations meet AS9100 requirements and internal quality procedures.
  • Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve nonconformances, MRB dispositions, rework, and corrective actions.
  • Drive improved first-pass yield and reduction of escapes through effective process discipline and verification.
  • Support customer visits, audits, and program reviews with credible status and data-backed recovery plans.

  People Leadership & Culture

  • Lead, coach, and develop team leads and assemblers; set clear expectations and hold teams accountable.
  • Support hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and employee development.
  • Promote a culture of ownership, urgency, and teamwork with strong floor presence.

  Safety & Risk Management

  • Enforce EHS requirements and safe work practices; ensure compliance with PPE, LOTO, and other applicable programs.
  • Promote hazard identification, near-miss reporting, and timely corrective actions with a goal of zero incidents.

• 5+ years in manufacturing operations (aerospace preferred), including 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated success driving schedule recovery, improving flow, and executing in a fast-paced production environment.
• Working knowledge of Lean fundamentals and practical continuous improvement tools.
• Familiarity with regulated quality systems (AS9100 or similar) and disciplined documentation practices.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and team leadership skills.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and standard production reporting tools (Excel, dashboards, etc.).

• Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Experience in aerospace assembly, complex builds, or multi-shift operations.
  • Lean/Six Sigma certification or formal continuous improvement training.
  • Familiarity with NADCAP (as applicable), APQP/PFMEA/control plans, and supplier recovery.
  • Experience in takted flow, cells/lines, and mixed-model scheduling.

• Physical Demands:

  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.