Senior Principal Industrial Engineer
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Marion, VA · Posted October 28, 2026
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- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
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How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among industrial engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for industrial engineers: 4% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
Clearance Requirements:
Department of Defense Secret security clearance is preferred at time of hire. Candidates must be able to obtain a Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time from date of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.
Responsibilities for this Position
At General Dynamics Mission Systems, we create the technologies, products and services that help our nation's heroes keep our nation safe. The work we do is so advanced, we are continuously moving the boundaries of what's possible. Here you'll work with the best and your talent will be front and center on projects that impact the world. Are you up to the challenge?
We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers' missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar space and everything in between.
As our dedicated Industrial Engineer, you will systematically identify and eliminate production constraints to drive measurable cost savings and throughput improvements across all manufacturing programs. Using a combination of hands-on analysis (time studies, motion studies, value stream mapping) and data-driven methods (ERP data pulls, process simulation, agentic AI tools), you will own the continuous improvement roadmap for the site — turning observations into action and delivering results to the shop floor.
This Industrial Engineering role is new to the Marion site, giving the selected candidate significant freedom to define how Industrial Engineering will support and shape our operations moving forward. The position also offers substantial exposure to Senior Leadership, with opportunities to lead and support projects at other GDMS locations, including the precision optics facility in Cullman, Alabama. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious self-starter to gain meaningful experience and visibility as an Industrial Engineer within the Aerospace and Defense industry.
What you'll experience:
Technologies that aren't just top-notch, they're often top-secret
A team of bold thinkers committed to exploring what's next
Opportunities to gain new knowledge — as it's discovered
Ownership of site-wide continuous improvement goals with the autonomy to drive change from the shop floor up
What you bring to the table:
A Bachelor's degree in Industrial or Industrial Systems Engineering (or equivalent experience) plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
Proficiency in lean manufacturing concepts including theory of constraints, waste reduction, value stream mapping, and 6S
Experience gathering and analyzing production data to identify process constraints, develop capital/expense justifications with supporting ROIs, and lead root cause corrective action (RCCA) events
Working knowledge of 2D/3D modeling software (e.g., Catia, AutoCAD) and production process simulation tools (e.g., SIMIO, Delmia)
Experience supporting the setup of new manufacturing work cells, including facility layout optimization, material storage analysis, and visual management systems (shadowboards, custom racking)
What sets you apart:
Ability to translate the voice of the customer (production employees) into actionable improvement projects and visual management systems
Experience building and managing metrics to track, predict, and improve production performance
Utilization of agentic AI tools such as Claude Code to rapidly analyze data, draw conclusions, and solve for constraints
Lean / Six Sigma Certification or APICS Certification
Proven ability to determine theoretical best output of production processes and establish best-standard goals to drive continuous performance gains
#LI-KM1
Salary Note This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.
Combined Salary Range USD $158,161.00 - USD $175,946.00 /Yr.
Company Overview
General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!
Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans