Continuous Improvement Specialist
Cincinnati, Ohio
Build an Aviation Career You’re Proud Of
At StandardAero, we use our ingenuity and know-how to find solutions for the simple to the most complex challenges in aviation. Together, we get the job done and done well. Our stability, resources, and respectful culture supports you in building a solid career with a great team you can count on day in and day out for the long term.
As the Continuous Improvement Specialist, you will be a highly analytical and driven analyst to support continuous improvement initiatives across a large-scale aerospace component repair and manufacturing operation. This role will focus on developing, implementing, and sustaining lean fundamentals and continuous improvement initiatives to drive measurable improvements in turnaround time (TAT), on-time delivery (OTD), quality, and cost.
This individual will not directly lead a team but will play a critical role influencing leaders and frontline teams, facilitating problem-solving, and ensuring disciplined execution of lean systems across the site.
What you’ll do
- Lead and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives across production and support functions.
- Develop and implement lean systems including standard work, visual management, and flow.
- Analyze operational data to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
- Support reduction of turnaround time (TAT) through bottleneck analysis and process optimization.
- Drive improvements in on-time delivery (OTD) through enhanced execution and planning alignment.
- Facilitate root cause problem-solving using structured methodologies (e.g., A3, 5 Whys).
- Support implementation of daily management systems and performance boards (SPQDC).
- Partner with Production Planning to improve schedule adherence and flow.
- Conduct time studies and process mapping to identify waste and inefficiencies.
- Drive labor efficiency improvements through standardization and elimination of non-value-added work.
- Support cost reduction initiatives including reduction of cost of poor quality (COPQ).
- Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain on cross-functional improvements.
- Train and coach frontline leaders and teams on lean principles and tools.
- Ensure sustainability of improvements through audits and standard work adherence.
- Prepare and present clear data-driven insights to leadership.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related experience.
- 2+ years of experience in an operational lead, leadership, or engineering role within a manufacturing, aerospace, or industrial environment.
- 1+ years of experience with lean tools (VSM, standard work, 5S, kaizen, etc.).
- 1+ years of proficient experience in data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar).
Desired Skills:
- Strong foundation in lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Ability to influence without authority and drive change across all levels.
- Highly analytical with strong problem-solving skills.
- Comfort working with data and translating insights into action.
- Experience facilitating kaizen events and improvement workshops.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Attention to detail and discipline in execution.
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Curiosity and a continuous learning mindset.
- Resilience and persistence in driving change.
- Strong collaboration skills across functions.
- Bias for action and results orientation.
Benefits that make life better:
- Comprehensive Health and Dental insurance
- 401K with 100% company match; up to 5%
- Paid Time Off starting on day one
- Bonus opportunities
- Health & Dental Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Short- & Long-Term Disability
- Life & AD&D Insurance
- Learning & Training opportunities
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related experience.
- 3+ years of experience in an operational lead, leadership, or engineering role within a manufacturing, aerospace, or industrial environment.
- 1+ years of experience with lean tools (VSM, standard work, 5S, kaizen, etc.).
- 1+ years of proficient experience in data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar).
StandardAero Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about StandardAero and has not been reviewed or approved by StandardAero.
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Retirement Support — Provides a 401(k) and has added an Employee Stock Purchase Plan and an Incentive Award (equity) plan, expanding long-term savings and ownership options. These programs complement base pay with additional wealth-building mechanisms.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Includes PTO, paid holidays, sick time, bereavement leave, military leave, and parental leave, with some roles accruing PTO that can increase with service. Eligibility for benefits typically begins the first day of the month after hire, indicating structured access to time-off programs.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Offers tuition assistance, job training/conferences, company events, and an Employee Assistance Program as part of a comprehensive package. The inclusion of learning support and EAP provides development and wellbeing resources beyond core insurance and retirement.
StandardAero Insights
What We Do
StandardAero has become one of the aerospace industry’s largest independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers. Our company’s success is the outgrowth of the synergistic merger of businesses with complementary specialties that have exponentially increased our capabilities and generated unprecedented customer commitment and value. StandardAero offers extensive MRO services and custom solutions for business aviation, commercial aviation, military, and industrial power customers. Nearly 6,600 professional, administrative and technical employees work in more than 50 major facilities worldwide, with additional strategically located regional service and support centers all across the globe. Services include MRO for aircraft and rotorcraft engines, auxiliary power units, components; airframe services including major alterations; FAA authorized avionics capabilities; comprehensive engineering services; and custom exterior and interior design, completion, and paint. We provide these capabilities through our network of specialized facilities and mobile service teams. StandardAero is owned by Carlyle, a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit, and Investment Solutions.
