Manufacturing Staff Manager

Job Description Summary

At GE Aerospace, we are advancing aviation technologies for today and tomorrow. Your work will contribute to the production of advanced jet engines, components, and integrated systems that power commercial and military aircraft. You will be part of a team that embraces your drive, your curiosity, and your unique ideas and perspectives. Most importantly, you will share in our pride and purpose that affects the lives of millions around the world.

About the Role

The Manufacturing Staff Manager runs the daily operations of a production area to keep the line reliable and consistent. You will develop strategies with cross-functional teams in operations, manufacturing engineering, FAA repairs, and materials. You will manage a team of salaried professionals and be accountable for hitting targets in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. This role does not include production supervisors who oversee hourly employees.

Based in Loves Park, IL on 1st shift, you will have significant input into priorities and influence how projects, programs, and ways of working are set across your functional area and the wider business. You will work with moderate autonomy and use strong operational judgment.

Job Description

In this role you will:

• Manage an operation, business unit, or part of a production facility to reach defined targets in safety, quality, delivery, and cost
• Run the daily operations of your area to ensure reliability and consistency on the production line
• Develop strategies with cross-functional teams in operations, manufacturing engineering, FAA repairs, and materials
• Lead a team of salaried professionals, as a first-line manager of professionals or a second-line manager of a professional department, and build their specialized knowledge
• Drive continuous business improvement against benchmarks and standards
• Serve as the best-practice and quality resource for your area, and stay aware of the latest technical developments in your field
• Contribute to strategy and policy development, influence how resources are controlled, and ensure delivery within your area of responsibility
• Apply an in-depth knowledge of best practices and of how your area connects with other teams. Understand the competition and what differentiates them in the market
• Use judgment to solve moderately complex problems in operations, product management, manufacturing, technology, or engineering. Take a fresh perspective on existing solutions, and use data analysis to support your recommendations
• Draw on multiple internal sources and limited external sources outside your function to reach decisions
• Act as a resource for colleagues with less experience, and lead small projects with moderate risk and resource requirements
• Explain difficult or sensitive information, build consensus, and develop the persuasion skills to influence others on topics in your field
• Set and track production metrics, such as safety, on-time delivery, throughput, first-pass yield, cost, and labor efficiency, and escalate risks early
• Own the area's budget, headcount planning, and capacity planning, and work with Materials and Planning to keep supply aligned to the schedule
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action on quality escapes, nonconformances, and schedule misses
• Make sure work follows approved procedures, regulatory requirements, and FAA repair documentation standards
• Hire, coach, and develop your team, set performance goals, and run succession planning
• Build a culture where safety comes first and where every person speaks up on safety and quality concerns

The Ideal Candidate

You are a manufacturing operations leader who is equally at ease on the floor and in the planning meeting. You manage professionals well: you set clear expectations, develop people, and hold the team accountable for results. You are comfortable with process improvement, lean, change management, and structured problem solving, and you can show where you used them to improve a real operation. You work across operations, engineering, materials, and repair teams, and you build consensus on difficult topics. You communicate clearly, you back your recommendations with data, and you take on projects that move your area forward.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college (or a high school diploma / GED with at least 6 years of experience in people management at a senior level)
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, or supply chain
• Strong background in manufacturing in a supply chain, operations, or manufacturing engineering role, with demonstrated knowledge of process improvement, lean methodology, change management, and structured problem solving
• Experience managing salaried or professional employees
• Ability to work on-site on 1st shift at the Loves Park, IL facility

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, engineering, or supply chain management
• Industry certifications such as PMP, CPIM, and CSCP
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience in FAA repair or MRO operations
• Experience with ERP and MES systems for scheduling, work order management, and reporting
• Familiarity with quality systems and standards, such as AS9100
• Experience managing budgets, headcount, and capacity plans
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs and projects, with established project management skills and the ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs

Additional Information

• Ability and willingness to work on-site in Loves Park, IL on 1st shift

The base pay range for this position is 116,200.00 - 155,000.00 USD Annual.  The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a percentage of your base salary/ commission based on the plan. This posting is expected to close on December 15th, 2026.

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness. 

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a “Sponsor”). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor’s welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional Information

GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.