Industrial Engineer III (L3) - Secret Clearance Eligible
Employment Type: Contract (Potential for Direct Hire Conversion)
Travel Requirement: Up to 25% Business Travel
Security Requirement: U.S. Citizenship Required (No Dual Citizenship)
Clearance: Secret Clearance not required to start; candidates must be willing and able to obtain one if requested during the contract
Drive Manufacturing Innovation and Operational Excellence
We are seeking a talented
Industrial Engineer III (L3) to support advanced manufacturing operations through process optimization, automation integration, and continuous improvement initiatives. This position plays a key role in improving production efficiency, reducing waste, enhancing workflow performance, and supporting the implementation of new manufacturing technologies.
The ideal candidate will bring strong industrial engineering experience within a manufacturing environment and possess expertise in process improvement methodologies, production system design, capacity planning, and automation technologies. Experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries is highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyze existing manufacturing processes, systems, and workflows to identify opportunities for improvements in efficiency, quality, throughput, and cost.
- Design and implement optimized production layouts, work cells, and material flow strategies.
- Lead and support New Process Introduction (NPI) activities, including process planning, documentation, time studies, and production readiness reviews.
- Evaluate, select, and integrate automation technologies to improve manufacturing performance and productivity.
- Develop and maintain standard work documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, time studies, motion studies, and capacity analyses.
- Apply industrial engineering principles such as value stream mapping, line balancing, ergonomic analysis, and simulation modeling to improve operational performance.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Operations teams to achieve production goals and support program schedules.
- Develop, monitor, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure process effectiveness and improvement results.
- Support facility planning efforts, equipment layouts, and capital investment justification projects.
- Conduct make-versus-buy evaluations, capacity planning assessments, and resource utilization studies.
- Assist with labor standards development and production rate estimates for program planning and cost analysis activities.
- Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and production personnel.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 5 years of Industrial Engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting and executing New Process Introduction (NPI) methodologies and tools.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing automation technologies and their practical application.
- Strong proficiency in industrial engineering concepts, including:
- Time studies
- Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
- Line balancing
- Capacity planning
- Excellent analytical, data-driven problem-solving, and process improvement skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- 10+ years of Industrial Engineering experience.
- Experience within a DoD defense contractor, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing environment.
- Experience with process equipment used in propellant manufacturing, food processing, or similar industries, including vertical mixers, fluid energy mills, and related systems.
- Familiarity with DoD 4145, Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs), and related government program requirements.
- Knowledge of automotive quality and manufacturing frameworks such as APQP, PPAP, and PFMEA.
- Experience using simulation and modeling software such as FlexSim or similar platforms.
- Hands-on experience with ERP, MES, and manufacturing data analytics tools.
- Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred).
- Experience with facility layout and design tools including AutoCAD, Creo, or comparable software.
- Active DoD Security Clearance or the ability to obtain one.
Why Join This Opportunity?
- Contribute to high-visibility manufacturing and process improvement initiatives.
- Work with advanced automation technologies and next-generation manufacturing systems.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced engineering environment.
- Gain exposure to complex production operations, facility planning, and strategic manufacturing projects.
- Potential opportunity for conversion to a permanent direct-hire position.
- Excellent fit for professionals seeking growth in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, process optimization, automation, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and defense or automotive manufacturing environments.
Apply today if you're passionate about manufacturing process improvement, automation integration, operational excellence, and driving measurable business results through Industrial Engineering expertise.