Continuous Improvement Specialist onsite Tucson, AZ
The Continuous Improvement Specialist at Confidential Client in Tucson, AZ, is responsible for driving operational efficiency and process optimization within manufacturing and production environments. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities, support compliance with AS9100 standards, analyze data to guide decisions, and maintain documentation and training to uphold quality and regulatory standards. The position requires an active DoD Secret security clearance and is fully onsite.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering (Aerospace & Defense).
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
Confidential Client in Tucson, AZ is seeking an entry-level Continuous Improvement Specialist to support manufacturing and operations teams in improving process efficiency, quality, and compliance with AS9100/QMS expectations.
- Assist identifying, analyzing, and implementing process improvement opportunities across Fabrication, Assembly, Inspection, and Test (FAIT).
- Support development and execution of Qualification Plans for production deliverables to meet AS9100 requirements.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret operational data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
- Define and track metrics to measure effectiveness of process changes and report results to stakeholders.
- Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, and Quality to implement best practices and corrective actions.
- Support creation and delivery of training materials and standard work documentation.
- Maintain accurate process documentation and change records.
- Travel occasionally to other facilities to support improvement initiatives.
- Participate in a 9/80 onsite schedule (9-hour shifts with every other Friday off).
Required Qualifications
- University degree or equivalent experience and typically a minimum of 2 years relevant experience in manufacturing or operations.
- Hands-on continuous improvement experience (Six Sigma, Kaizen, Lean, or similar).
- Practical experience in a manufacturing/production line or operations environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance is required; U.S. citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to use data to drive decisions.
- Familiarity with process mapping, root-cause analysis, and Lean tools.
- Experience with AS9100/QMS principles and quality compliance.
- Experience or familiarity with PRISM, Power BI, or similar manufacturing/business systems is a plus.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work across multi-skill-level teams.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently.
Location, Schedule & Clearance
- Worksite: Onsite — Tucson, AZ.
- Schedule: 9/80 schedule (9-hour shifts; alternate Fridays off).
- Clearance: DoD Secret (ability to obtain and maintain required clearance). U.S. citizenship required.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range (good-faith estimate): USD 68,900 — USD 131,100 per year.
- Benefits (subject to eligibility and business unit): medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, parental leave, employee development programs, and potential eligibility for incentive compensation.
- Relocation assistance may be available for eligible candidates.
Why Join
- Work on meaningful engineering and manufacturing challenges for a major aerospace & defense client.
- Gain hands-on experience applying Lean/Six Sigma tools in production environments.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams committed to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Structured development and training opportunities to grow your CI and manufacturing career.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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