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Job Type
Full-time
Description
Salary: $140,000 - $160,000
In house M-F - 7:30 - 4:30
Applicant must be Colorado residents or planning to relocate already to be considered
Location:
KP&C
14401 W 65th Way, Unit B
Arvada, CO 80004
Overview
The Director of Assembly is responsible for leading all assembly operations to ensure Kratos products are built safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role oversees a large and growing team of managers, foremen, leads, and associates - driving operational discipline, employee development, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The Director of Assembly serves as a key partner to Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure on-time, test-ready builds that meet Kratos standards for quality and delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Own daily execution of the assembly value stream, ensuring all jobs are completed safely, on time, and to standard.
- Translate the master schedule into actionable daily and weekly line plans, driving team accountability to meet targets.
- Manage department performance through visual management tools, including line boards, KPIs, and schedule adherence dashboards.
- Lead daily standups (scrums) and weekly performance reviews to monitor progress and remove roadblocks.
- Ensure capacity planning, line loading, and staffing align with production goals and future demand.
People Development
- Build and develop a high-performing leadership team (Production Managers, Foremen, and Leads) that drives ownership and engagement throughout the department.
- Partner with HR and Training to implement a structured onboarding and skills development program across all levels.
- Coach supervisors on effective communication, team motivation, and accountability practices consistent with Kratos Code Orange culture.
- Promote a safe, organized, and high-morale work environment built on mutual respect and continuous improvement.
Process & Continuous Improvement
- Implement and sustain standard work, visual controls, and 5S throughout assembly lines.
- Identify and eliminate waste in assembly flow - collaborating with Engineering and Supply Chain to resolve constraints and improve first-pass yield.
- Drive adoption of standardized build sequences, in-process quality checkpoints, and daily problem-solving.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to introduce new tools, fixtures, and process improvements that increase throughput and quality.
- Leverage data to drive decision-making, track performance trends, and lead root-cause corrective actions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Scheduling and Supply Chain to ensure parts and kits are available in advance of scheduled builds.
- Work closely with Engineering to implement design updates, drawing changes, and release timing to minimize disruption.
- Coordinate with Quality to ensure in-process inspections and test-readiness milestones are consistently achieved.
- Support Operations leadership in driving company-wide goals for on-time delivery, cost of quality, and labor efficiency.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, ith at least 5 years leading large production teams.
- Demonstrated success driving schedule adherence, line performance, and operational KPIs in a build-to-order or complex assembly environment.
- Proven ability to develop leaders, standardize operations, and implement lean practices.
- Strong communicator and team builder with a proactive, hands-on approach and a passion for execution excellence.
Salary Description
$140,000 - $160,000