Manager, Machine Shop

Are you a hands-on manufacturing leader who thrives on running a shop, developing people, and driving continuous improvement? We’re looking for a Machine Shop Manager to lead a 50-person, two-shift, high-speed machining operation supporting medical device manufacturing.
This is a highly visible leadership role with real ownership—of people, performance, quality, and results. If you enjoy being on the floor, building strong teams, and using data to improve how work gets done, this could be a great next step.

What You’ll Do
As the Machine Shop Manager, you’ll have full responsibility for day-to-day operations and long-term performance of the machining center. Your focus will be on people development, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

People & Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors, machinists, and support staff across two shifts

Build a positive, engaged shop culture through clear communication, training, and accountability

Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, coaching, and employee relations

Be a visible, hands-on leader on the floor who supports teams and removes obstacles

Lead change initiatives and drive a Lean mindset across the operation

Operations & Delivery

Own daily production performance and long-term capacity planning

Establish goals, track KPIs, and close gaps to target across safety, quality, delivery, and cost

Lead cross-functional projects and support new product/process introductions

Develop and maintain visual management systems to keep the shop in control

Use machining production management systems (Machine Metrics or similar) to drive decisions

Quality & Regulatory

Ensure quality is built into processes—not inspected in later

Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for chronic defects

Oversee line stops and quality escalations when needed

Support FDA-regulated manufacturing and ISO 13485 / ISO 9001 compliance

Participate in internal and external audits and help close customer complaints

Cost, Safety & Sustainability

Own department budgets, inventory, and cost reduction initiatives

Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with EHS requirements

Lead accident investigations, safety audits, and monthly 5S reviews

What We’re Looking For

Required

Bachelor’s degree

10+ years of experience in machining or manufacturing (medical device strongly preferred)

5+ years of experience leading teams of 20+ employees

Experience in high-speed machining and high-volume manufacturing

Strong people leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate, and inspire

Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles

Comfortable working in a regulated environment (FDA / ISO)

Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills

Preferred

Advanced degree

Lean Six Sigma certification

Experience with SAP or other ERP systems

Experience with Machine Metrics or similar production management systems

Injection molding experience

What Success Looks Like

Teams are engaged, trained, and performing at a high level

The shop runs with clear priorities, strong metrics, and minimal firefighting

Safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are consistently met or exceeded

Continuous improvement is part of the daily culture—not a side project

Why Join Us

Lead a critical operation with real ownership and influence

Work in a stable, regulated medical device environment

Be part of a culture that values structure, accountability, and people development

Make a visible impact on performance and team success