Skip to main content
collage of photos featuring a rocket, a plane, and a submarine

Bring your ideas
to life

Search

Find U.S. Contract Jobs

Spirit Defense - Senior Operations Engineering Manager

Wichita, Kansas Job ID 2026-16786 Category Manufacturing Role Type Onsite Post Date May 20, 2026 Security Clearance Required
Apply Now

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.


This role is at Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, at Spirit’s Defense Business Unit (“Spirit Defense”). Spirit Defense is an independent supplier to the defense and space marketplace. Through innovative engineering and rapid prototyping excellence, Spirit Defense provides the capabilities, technologies and support customers need to succeed in their missions.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Manage, develop, and motivate employees to achieve high performance
  • Oversee and approve technical approaches, products, and processes
  • Establish, oversee, and administer processes, policies, and practices and determine resource requirements, acquisition, and redeployment plans
  • Oversee and manage budgets of the organization and development projects
  • Understands full life cycle requirements for product development
  • Defines factory vision, and strategy
  • Works with subordinates to establish and evaluate employee performance plans
  • Interfaces with other organizations, internal/external customers, and suppliers to define and evaluate accomplishment of project, program priorities and approvals, and assist in roadblocks elimination
  • Manages employees and multiple levels of management applying industrial and manufacturing engineering techniques and concepts to optimize production system design and operational efficiency
  • Develops and executes integrated departmental plans, policies and procedures and provides input on departmental business and technical strategies, goals, objectives
  • Develops and maintains relationships and partnerships with customers, stakeholders, peers, partners and direct reports
  • Provides oversight and approval of technical approaches, products and processes
  • Team is responsible for long-range asset planning, headcount planning, short- and medium-range resource planning, and emergent support as needed
  • Team is considered subject matter experts for Factory/Operations Metrics and Improvement, helping to provide insight into performance, target opportunities for improvement, and drive on-time delivery of quality product, safely
  • Set operational goals and acquire necessary resources for projects and processes
  • Provide technical management of suppliers and lead process improvement initiatives
  • Develop and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, stakeholders, and team members
  • Provide technical inputs for derivatives and future requests for proposals
  • Oversee and approve technical approaches, products, and processes
  • Interface regularly with executive leadership, customers, and program stakeholders to provide status updates and drive resolution of key issues

This position is expected to be 100% onsite.  The selected candidate will be required to work onsite at our Wichita, KS, location

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills and Experience):

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related 4-year technical degree
  • 10+ years of experience with one or more of the following within the Manufacturing Operations function (e.g., Shop Floor Manufacturing Operations, Production/Manufacturing Engineering, Integration & Test Engineering, or Industrial Engineering)
  • 10+ years of experience leading various problem-solving methods (i.e. Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, or other assessment, audit and investigative models)
  • 5+ years of related management, supervisory, and/or leadership experience
  • Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance and Special Program Access (for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship)

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

  • Master’s degree in engineering or a related field
  • Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance and Special Program Access
  • Experience in the aerospace industry, particularly with military or defense programs
  • Strong knowledge of mechanical assemblies, manufacturing processes, or industry standards
  • Thorough understanding of root cause analysis and related analytical methodology (Five Whys, Fishbone/Ishikawa Analysis, 8D, etc.) and root cause driven engineering changes
  • Experience or relevant course work in any of the following: Six Sigma, Lean+, Manufacturing and/or Process Improvement
  • Leadership in major business transformation initiatives
  • Progressive leadership experience with increasing scope and responsibility
  • Strategic leadership mindset
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

Drug Free Workplace:

We are a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Pay & Benefits:

We strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent.  Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. 

We also provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. 

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. 

Summary Pay Range: $144,050-$220,850

Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems’ Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.

Security Clearance:

This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. An interim and/or final U.S. Secret Clearance Post-Start is required.

Visa Sponsorship:

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

#LI-CG1


Export Control Requirements:

Export Control Requirements: This position must meet export control compliance requirements. To meet export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.


Equal Opportunity Employer

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Shows the full job description for sighted users
Apply Now

Your Benefits

No matter where you are in life, our benefits help prepare you for the present and the future.

  • Generous company match to your 401(k).
  • Industry-leading tuition assistance program pays your institution directly.
  • Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
  • Up to $10,000 gift match when you support your favorite nonprofit organizations.
Explore more benefits

These programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other conditions, which may differ for employees of certain subsidiaries or business units, or union-represented employees depending on bargaining agreement terms. If this information conflicts with the program documents, the latter shall control. This material is informational only.

  • Jacob M
    We never stop growing

    Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge or grow as a leader, our development programs are designed to help you succeed.

    Learn more

Jobs for You:

No recently viewed jobs.

View all of our available opportunities

No saved jobs.

View all of our available opportunities

Connect with us

Sign up for Job Alerts

Be the first to know when new jobs are posted.

Sign up for Job Alerts

Join our Talent Community

Get updates about Boeing job opportunities, events and career information.

Sign up for our Talent Community

Veteran Talent Community

Transition to a career in engineering, product support, IT, manufacturing or other areas.

Sign up for our Veteran Talent Community