Industrial Engineer - Assembly Optimization at Kratos Industries LLC – Arvada, Colorado

Position Overview

Kratos Industries is seeking an experienced Industrial Engineer (IE) to lead assembly optimization and material / information flow transformation initiatives within our advanced electrical equipment manufacturing operations.

This role will focus on redesigning and stabilizing assembly operations processes across low and medium voltage product lines, with primary responsibility for, but not limited to:

• Assembly line optimization

• Labor modeling and workforce setup

• Material flow redesign

• Staging and kitting strategy

• Workstation layout and ergonomics

• Production scheduling alignment

• In-process quality verification

• Process documentation

The position will initially report directly to the Director of Assembly, reflecting the immediate priority of restoring flow, throughput, and predictability within build operations. Over time, this role is expected to influence broader operational excellence initiatives across the organization.

We are specifically seeking an Industrial Engineer who has personally executed IE work in an advanced manufacturing environment, not solely managed projects, but designed, implemented, and sustained shop-floor improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Assembly Line Optimization

• Conduct end-to-end reviews, line balancing, material, and information flow analysis across assembly operations.

• Support redesigning assembly cells and build lines to improve throughput, labor efficiency, and first-pass yield

• Implement and/or improve visual management systems

• Reduce bottlenecks and variability in high-mix, low-to-mid volume manufacturing environments

• Drive measurable improvements in overall equipment effectiveness, labor productivity, and cycle time

Material & Workflow Redesign

• Map and redesign material flow from receiving through staging and into assembly lines

• Optimize kitting, point-of-use delivery, and line-side inventory strategies

• Reduce WIP and improve flow velocity

• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Program Management to ensure demand alignment and material availability

• Improve layout design to minimize motion, congestion, and safety risks

Worker Setup & Ergonomics

• Optimize workstation configuration for safety, efficiency, and repeatability

• Develop standard labor models and staffing plans aligned to demand variability

• Improve training structure and work instructions to support consistent execution

• Incorporate ergonomic best practices into line redesign

Scheduling & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner with Program Management, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to integrate assembly line redesign into detailed production schedules

• Support detailed transition planning to avoid disruption during implementation

• Participate in S&OP or production planning reviews as needed

• Ensure improvements are scalable and aligned with long-term production forecasts

Implementation & Change Management

• Lead Kaizen events and structured improvement initiatives

• Support development of clear ROI cases for capital or layout changes

• Help drive adoption of new processes through hands-on shop floor leadership

• Support in establishing KPI dashboards to track performance post-implementation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

• 5+ years of Industrial Engineering experience in advanced manufacturing

• Direct, hands-on experience performing:

o Metrics and Information Visibility – Dashboards and Tier Boards

o Line balancing

o Assembly cell design

o Material flow optimization

• Demonstrated success improving assembly performance in complex electromechanical or industrial equipment environments

• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles

• Proficiency in labor modeling and capacity planning

• Experience working in ERP/MRP-driven production environments