Production System Integration Lead

We are seeking a Production Integration Lead for the Powertrain Integrated Product Team (IPT). You will be responsible for supporting the integration and overseeing the execution of the Production System for the IPTs. In this role you will be supporting the IPT Program Managers with Production status, escalating roadblocks and identifying risks & opportunities. You will also work closely with the Directors/Managers of Manufacturing and Production  Engineering to represent the interests of  their teams, to define and execute the production plans, develop standards, monitor progress, and support resolution of concerns.  

The Production Integration Lead  is expected to support resolution of  technical, cost, and schedule issues within their scope and help the team overcome issues that impede program progress, allowing core staff to concentrate on their given Work Products. This position will be responsible for development of production plans for Gate reviews and facilitate self-guided peer reviews of all work products produced by the team.  The Production Integration Lead, in cooperation with the project's assigned Program Manager, will be responsible for generation and maintenance of an Integrated Master Schedule, risk identification and mitigation, planning packages, program management reports and technical baselines associated with the project.

Applicants are expected to be self-motivated, detail oriented, have excellent organizational skills, and a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with all levels of management and individual contributors on the program team through strong written and verbal communication skills.  The IPTL will be required to communicate to a variety of engineers, organizations, and customers from Chief Engineer (CE), program managers, functional managers, other IPTLs and team contributors. 

This is an outstanding opportunity to become involved in all aspects of a program while learning the product, technologies and capabilities, as well as program execution.

Responsibilities include:

• Engage with Program Managers, Chief Engineers, Functional Managers, Flight Test Engineers, and project team, promoting successful program planning and execution within cost, schedule and technical milestones
• Support development efforts related to the concept, architecture, design, development, integration, validation, performance assessment, risk management, and flight test
•  Point of contact for the technical, cost, and schedule performance in Production Systems. 
• Frequent collaboration with multiple functions (software, hardware, systems, etc) and the program office
• Development of learning plan ... from current to new model
• Monitoring engineering performance and ensuring that issues are addressed immediately and corrective actions are implemented expeditiously
• Technical presentations with internal and external customers
• Support the implementation of  the Production System Requirements and architecture within the IPTs
• Coordinate and integrate IPT Production Plans into master production plan.
• Coordinate with Quality to ensure the quality system is adopted and leveraged
• Analyze build sequences and support capacity analysis for the Production System within the IPT (headcount, machines, layouts, supply chain, inventory levels)
• Define material delivery plans (inbound and outbound), crew cycling plans, tool cycling plans
• Understand and monitor capacity and cost metrics
• Support the  framework to forecast capital or operational expenditures against long range plan
• Conduct trade-off analyses to drive key manufacturing business decisions
• Run what-if scenarios and optimization experiments

Required Skills:

• Manufacturing operations experience 
• Strong engineering, analytical, and technical writing skills with ability to present test data and explain results to management & customers
• Strong communication skills for engagement with program management, technical team members and customers and/or subcontractors
• Demonstrated strong judgment, coordination skills, and decision making abilities

Desired Skills:

• Prior project/team leadership experience
• Able to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and promoting two-way communication
• Automation integration experience

Why we need you:

• The successful candidate will join Wisk's 6th Generation eVTOL Powertrain IPT working closely with engineering, test and supply chain teams to seek alignment of the project plans and ensure execution to these plans. This role covers aspects of inventory planning and usage through the design & development phase gates and will transition each project through formal hand off to the production planning role in the PRR (Production Readiness Review) phase gate. The expectation is this role will span several projects (Block-0, 1 & 2) simultaneously that are each at different stages in the development process.

What you will do:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for, and liaison between NPI Engineering Department and the Supply Chain / Quality / Production Departments for new product launches.
• Influence and support the early stages of our product lifecycle, by preparing, issuing or approving of:  SOWs, PO request and internal part requests.
• Understand product's engineering and production BOMs (Bills of Materials) including acceptable substitution/alternate parts.
• Take responsibility for the IPT's inventory planning and usage, including planning for allocation of parts in house to the IPT planned area of use (engineering, test, pre-production or flight test). 
• Translate projected forecasts, incoming volume, and work scopes into a plan with a time-phased build schedule for pre-production activities.
• Support the formal handoff to the production team, through achievement of PRR metrics.
• Review of testing and pre-production demands, to attain alignment with the production's schedule(s) in the Integrated Master Schedule.
• Assist with preparing CCB (Configuration Change Board) impacts to inventory receipt schedule / cost. 
• Communicate at CCB the IPT's recommendation for the disposition plan (use as is, scrap / obsolete design, etc).
• Stay active in the industry observing potential material shortage trends.
• Be able to identify shortages, obsolescence and/or excess inventory.
• Provide analysis and reporting on pre-production inventory.
• Assist with tracking and reporting inventory costs.
• Proactively escalate potential shortages to Program Manager and IPT Lead.
• Collaborates with the Program Manager, Design Engineering and Supply Chain on material cancellations, changes, expedites or push-outs. 
• In close partnership with Supply Chain,help to lead rapid investigations of inventory constraints, identifying short term actions and permanent countermeasures.
• Participate in PFMEA reviews with suppliers, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure process plans will produce parts that meet quality, cost and delivery requirements.
• Assist with coordinating RFC (Request for Conformity) activities.
• Gather project status from Jira and Sprint teams and update IPT project plans and schedules, report impacts to PMs / IPTL.
• Propose best practices, lead and suggest continuous improvement for overall efficiencies.
• Identify opportunities for cost and time savings.

Required:

• Five years of experience working in a material planning environment, as a pre-production planner or project planner.
• Experience of managing inventory through design and development.
• Experience maintaining and updating MS Project Schedules (or equivalent).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to forecast demand and proactively identify supply issues.
• Ability to propose optimized inventory solutions, balancing lead time and cost.
• Understanding of impacts to inventory due to emerging engineering change requests, yield impacts or material due date expiry.
• Knowledge of Excel and/or equivalent Google Sheets.
• Knowledge of MRP/ ERP Systems.
• Ability to read Bill of Materials (BOMs).
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time (primarily US, Canada or Mexico, with occasional international travel to Europe or Asia).

Desired:

• Experience managing inventory through the certification process for an aerospace company (or automotive).
• Experience working with Jira, SAP and TeamCenter.
• Basic knowledge of reading GDT, Blueprints, Assembly or other engineering drawings.
• Knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP and Export Compliance.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing techniques, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Who you are:

• You are a highly motivated, self starting individual with a broad set of skills and never afraid of facing complex technical challenges.
• You are a solution oriented individual with a strong analytical mindset.
• You have strong communication skills and can easily tailor your communications to suit the audience.
• You can adapt quickly or propose changes needed to achieve early results in a timely fashion.
• You embrace challenges and take commitments and deliver results within reasonable expectations.
• You have excellent organizational and communication skills, with the ability to build and sustain long term trusting relationships.
• You have the mental flexibility to think strategically and act tactically.
• You are a positive team player.

$157,557 - $181,100 a year

In addition to offering a great work environment and the opportunity to be part of the team making electric autonomous flight a reality, at Wisk, we offer excellent total rewards which include a competitive base salary, annual bonus, long term incentive, 401K, health benefits and much more.  

Job Type: Full-time

Pay Range the Company expects to pay:  $157,557 - $181,100  per year - The starting base salary within this range for this role varies based on factors such as your geographical location, and your relevant job-related experience that is consistent with a business necessity.

We are located in Mountain View just a couple of hundred feet from Shoreline Lake and its surrounding walking/jogging trails. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, alternative work schedule (9/80), flexible time off, 11 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching vested immediately, commuter assistance, and education assistance. And on top of all that, we also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, wellness allowances, snacks, drinks, fruit, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, patent bonus program, happy hours and much more.

Wisk Aero provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wisk Aero abides by applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Wisk Aero is an E-Verify employer.