Principal Manufacturing Engineer

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer provides technical leadership in the development, optimization, and sustainment of manufacturing processes for complex products. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence through process improvement, advanced manufacturing technologies, equipment selection, production readiness, and cross-functional collaboration. As a recognized technical expert, the Principal Manufacturing Engineer leads high-impact initiatives that improve quality, productivity, cost, and manufacturability while supporting business growth and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing processes for new and existing products.
• Serve as the technical authority for manufacturing engineering projects, providing guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Partner with Product Design, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, and Production teams to ensure products are designed for manufacturability, assembly, and serviceability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new manufacturing technologies, automation, tooling, and equipment to improve efficiency and product quality.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for manufacturing, quality, and production issues.
• Develop manufacturing work instructions, process documentation, validation plans, and standard operating procedures.
• Define capital equipment requirements and support equipment procurement, installation, qualification, and commissioning.
• Establish process capability metrics and monitor manufacturing performance through data analysis and statistical methods.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities, including process development, pilot builds, process validation, and production ramp-up.
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve manufacturability, quality, and delivery performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead technical risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for manufacturing processes.
• Mentor manufacturing engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple projects and product lines.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Typically 10+ years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in manufacturing process development, process optimization, and production support.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, and production systems.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or a related field.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license or relevant technical certifications.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics, automation, or digital manufacturing.
• Knowledge of quality systems and applicable industry standards.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of manufacturing processes and production systems.
• Strong project leadership and technical mentoring capabilities.
• Expertise in process validation, process capability, and statistical process control.
• Proficiency with CAD, PLM, ERP, MES, and manufacturing data analysis tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Working Conditions

• Combination of office and manufacturing floor environments.
• Occasional travel to suppliers, manufacturing sites, or customer locations may be required.
• Ability to work in accordance with facility safety requirements, including the use of personal protective equipment where applicable.

Success in this role is measured by:

• Improvements in manufacturing efficiency, throughput, and productivity.
• Reduction in production costs and manufacturing waste.
• Improved product quality and process capability.
• Successful implementation of new manufacturing technologies and process improvements.
• On-time execution of manufacturing engineering projects.
• Effective mentorship and development of engineering team members.