Drone Assembly, Manufacturing Consultant

Role Overview

• Evaluate existing documentation, identifying improvement areas, and advising on implementation strategies.
• Evaluate emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) to reduce costs and improve scalability for drone components, particularly lightweight materials.
• Develop strategies to incorporate sustainability practices, including renewable energy solutions and waste minimization, to align with federal requirements for green manufacturing.
• Align with Cayuse’s core values of Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Integrity by fostering technical solutions that meet customer needs, promoting teamwork, and prioritizing quality in deliverables.
• Conduct a detailed analysis of the existing business case developed by the team and subcontractor, quickly digesting project goals, assumptions, resource allocations, and proposed workflows.
• Identify risks, gaps, or inefficiencies in the plan and recommend actionable improvements.
• Provide guidance on aligning manufacturing strategies with federal customer needs, focusing on cost efficiency, operational scalability, and compliance with NDAA, FAR, DFARS, and other Federal Acquisition supplements.
• Evaluate proposed assembly workflows to optimize efficiencies and ensure scalability.
• Advise on measurable metrics for production performance, quality assurance, and operational bottleneck resolution.
• Assess the feasibility of transitioning modular pilot setups to permanent manufacturing facilities and define best practices for scaling.
• Evaluate planned compliance measures across safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure manufacturing, packaging, and shipping workflows align with relevant federal safety and quality protocols.
• Ensure robust cybersecurity measures aligned with CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) requirements for protecting procurement and operational data across manufacturing workflows.
• Support leadership in achieving certifications for ISO 9001 (Quality Management) clause 8.5 and ISO 27001 (Information Security) to meet industry standards and federal compliance.
• Assess the current plans for vendor relationships, sourcing strategies, and inventory management.
• Recommend ways to streamline supply chains to enable scalable and cost-effective production.
• Implement predictive inventory planning tools to forecast material demands and flag reorder levels while supporting just-in-time supply chain practices.
• Develop supply chain risk management plans for sourcing critical components to mitigate supply chain risks during scaling operations.
• Refine existing processes and identify opportunities for lean manufacturing, cost reduction, and process efficiencies.
• Recommend tools and methodologies for tracking production workflows, inventory, and supplier performance.
• Introduce continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Kaizen) to enable iterative enhancements across drone manufacturing workflows.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor process efficiency, cycle times, throughput rates, rework percentages, and delivery accuracy.
• Guide executive leadership in adopting additive and advanced manufacturing technologies for efficient production and cost savings.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to optimize workflows, reduce waste, and improve quality assurance.
• Perform technical readiness assessments to identify key production technologies to scale operations efficiently from pilot setup to permanent facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration (or related field).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing, strategic planning, or scaling production operations.
• Proven ability to evaluate and refine business plans, including risk assessment and implementation strategy development.
• Expertise in workflow analysis, supply chain logistics, scalability planning, and operational optimization.
• Familiarity with federal government contracting processes or defense manufacturing best practices.
• Deep expertise in additive manufacturing processes for aerospace or defense applications, including 3D printing capabilities.
• Strong understanding of drone technologies and federal procurement standards (e.g., FAR/DFARS compliance).
• Knowledge of safety protocols and regulations affecting drone production and shipping for federal clients.
• Due to the nature of work at the client’s facility, U.S. Citizenship is required. Must be able to pass a background check.
• Minimum Skills: Analytical and detail-oriented; capable of delivering clear and actionable improvement recommendations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate in a clear, professional, and articulate manner.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast past environment with changing priorities; adaptable to change and a quick learner.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work well independently as well as on a multi-functional team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Proficient in MS Office, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects with overlapping deadlines and production schedules in a fast-paced event environment.

Tech Stack

• Assembly
• Cyber Security

Benefits

• Professional remote environment
• Ability to retain full discretion over the manner, means, and methods used to perform services
• Ability to set work schedule; however, the nature of the engagement may require flexibility, including evenings, weekends, or extended hours to meet client needs and agreed-upon deadlines
• Ability to furnish all equipment and other office productivity tools required.
• No office space, equipment, or supplies will be provided by Cayuse