Drone Assembly and Manufacturing Consultant

Overview

Cayuse Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC (Cayuse), a tribally owned enterprise supporting U.S. federal and military customers, is expanding its offerings into drone assembly/manufacturing. We are seeking a highly qualified Consultant to review and refine our existing plans for establishing a scalable, efficient, and compliant drone manufacturing line. Working with our team and subcontractor, the Consultant will quickly digest the current business case and identify any gaps, risks, or opportunities for improvement.

This role involves providing actionable strategies to refine operations, streamline workflows, and ensure readiness for scaling production to meet federal customer demands.

The Work

The Consultant will focus on evaluating 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.

The Consultant will 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and Refinement of Business Case:
  • 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.
• Manufacturing Strategy Refinement:
  • 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.
• Compliance and Safety Protocols:
  • 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.
• Supply Chain and Vendor Evaluation:
  • 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.
• Process Optimization and Documentation:
  • 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.
• Additive Manufacturing
  • 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. 

Deliverables

• Gap analysis and refinement recommendations for the current business case.
• Updated workflows and operational strategy documentation based on identified improvements.
• Risk mitigation strategies for facility development, production scalability, and compliance gaps.
• Written report of actionable solutions for streamlining assembly, shipping, packaging, and facility processes.
• Provide innovative recommendations for renewable energy integration into facility operations to align with green manufacturing initiatives.
• Submit technology readiness assessments to evaluate automation options and optimize future-state manufacturing infrastructure.
• Develop ISO certification audit readiness documentation for manufacturing operations to achieve compliance in quality and information security standards.

Qualifications – Here’s What You Need

• 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. May require additional background checks as required by projects and/or clients at any time during employment.

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.
• Time management habits, ability to multi-task, ability to sustain focus on long-term tasks
• Ability to work autonomously and in collaboration with cross-discipline teams.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• Experience working with tribal or minority-owned organizations in federal contracting.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements for manufacturing workflows (e.g., CMMC).
• Certifications (preferred but not mandatory):
• Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green or Black Belt).
• PMP (Project Management Professional).
• Relevant certifications in supply chain management or aerospace engineering (e.g., Certified Supply Chain Professional, FAA-related certifications).

Reports to: Company Managing Director

Working Conditions

• 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.
• May be asked for limited travel for business purposes as required.

Expected Engagement Duration:

3 to 5 months, with potential extension for ongoing advisory support as the manufacturing line is implemented and scaled.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cayuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All decisions are based on merit, qualifications, skills, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration in accordance with any applicable federal, state, or local law.