IT Manufacturing & Quality Manager

This role is at Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, supporting Spirit’s Commercial Business Units (“Spirit Commercial”). Spirit Commercial designs and builds commercial aerostructures, including for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, one of Boeing’s three business units and the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for decades. Spirit Commercial’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components, with a focus on innovative composite and aluminium manufacturing solutions.

The IT Manager – Manufacturing & Quality Applications is one of the most consequential leadership roles within Boeing Wichita’s IT organization. This position sits at the intersection of technology and production, directly responsible for the application portfolio that powers Boeing Wichita’s manufacturing and quality operations. At the center of this portfolio is Delmia Apriso, our enterprise Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and the digital backbone of our aircraft build process.

This is not a maintenance role. This leader will shape how manufacturing technology evolves at Boeing Wichita, driving the strategic roadmap, leading a high-performing team of internal talent and third-party partners, and serving as the critical bridge between IT and the business units that depend on these systems every single day. The right candidate will bring equal parts technical credibility, business acumen, and people leadership. The candidate will be someone who can hold the line on operational stability while simultaneously pushing the organization forward.

Position Responsibilities:

• Application & Operations Management
• Ensure the regular, secure, and stable operation of all Manufacturing & Quality applications, with Delmia Apriso as the primary platform.
• Manage the full lifecycle of Manufacturing & Quality applications, including upgrades, patches, integrations, and retirements.
• Develop, track, and control annual operating and capital budgets for purchasing, staffing, and operations in support of the team and projects.
• Monitor third-party vendor performance through service level agreements and escalate issues as needed.
• Ensure the company’s internal technological processes and customer-facing services comply with applicable laws and regulations for privacy, security, and social responsibility.
• Ensure application and technical issues are resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Define and communicate company values and standards for acquiring or developing applications, systems, equipment, or software within the team.
• Team Leadership & Development
• Lead and manage a team of 15 direct and indirect reports, split across functional and development disciplines.
• Develop and mentor two team leads – one aligned to functional operations and one to development – building leadership depth within the team.
• Manage and hold accountable more than 10 third-party support and development resources, ensuring contractual performance and delivery quality.
• Coach, grow, and develop team members by building individualized development plans and facilitating training opportunities.
• Drive accountability and celebrate team and individual success to build a high-performance culture.
• Market and promote the team’s capabilities across the IT organization and to the business to strengthen the team’s identity and reputation.
• Supervise recruitment, training, retention, and organization of staff in accordance with company hiring processes, personnel policies, and budget requirements.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and sustain strong collaborative relationships with IT Business Partners embedded within the manufacturing and quality business units.
• Partner effectively across IT towers to ensure integrated delivery and alignment on shared goals.
• Work with business leaders to understand operational needs and translate them into IT application strategies and project priorities.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• 5+ years of experience leading IT application management, development, and/or analytics teams.
• Experience managing large, complex enterprise applications in a manufacturing or industrial environment (MES experience preferred).
• Experience building and scaling teams, including managing vendor and third-party resources.
• Demonstrated success in driving application governance and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated focus on creating an excellent customer and team experience (Agile, SCRUM, and self-directed work teams).
• Proven experience developing technology roadmaps and 2–5 year strategic plans at a company or division level.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and team collaboration skills with the ability to communicate clearly across all levels of the organization.
• Experience creating and managing IT budgets.
• Overall understanding of technical architecture and enterprise application infrastructure.
• Pragmatic approach to leadership and problem-solving in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.
• Creates and deploys vision through an inspirational and optimistic leadership style.
• HS Diploma or GED

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Hands-on experience with Delmia Apriso or comparable MES/MOM platforms.
• Knowledge of manufacturing execution, quality management, or production planning systems.
• Knowledge of SAP and experience with related enterprise system integrations.
• Intermediate Oracle Database skills.
• Experience with TSA management or enterprise divestiture/integration programs.
• Willingness to support mission-critical systems in a 24/7 operational manufacturing environment.
• Ability to recognize and resolve critical issues in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

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: $105,100 - $161,100

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.