Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Knight Material Technologies is currently seeking a full‑time Manufacturing Engineering Manager for our East Canton, OH location. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and actively participating in the engineering function that supports manufacturing operations to ensure completion of customer product requirements on time and with the highest quality, while maintaining an environment that focuses on the Knight Material Technologies How We Work Principles of Safety and Compliance, Customer Focus, Respect, Integrity, Problem Solvers, and Teamwork.

Reports to:

Operations Manager
Full time, Exempt position

• Leads and maintains an environment that puts Safety and Compliance first.
• Actively participates in delivering consistent, high-quality products, continuously seeking out and implementing improvements.
• Owns the development, implementation, and sustainment of production equipment for improved quality, lead time, or capacity.
• Analyzes and utilizes data from production reporting and business systems to establish objectives, monitor performance, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborates with Process Engineer and other production team members for initiatives to improve yield, reduce variability, and achieve targeted quality levels.
• Plans and executes capital projects including justification, vendor selection, installation, commissioning, and hand‑off with proper documentation and training.
• Partners closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering & Maintenance to achieve site objectives for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP).
• Leads and actively participates in the manufacturing portion of new product introduction (NPI) and process transfers into manufacturing, ensuring readiness of tooling, fixtures, routings, BOMs, cycle times, and training.
• Leads in the definition and maintenance of accurate prints, BOMs, routings, labor standards, and process parameters within ERP system; ensures timely and complete change control.
• Facilitates structured root cause analysis and drives robust CAPA to prevent recurrence of safety, quality, delivery, and cost issues.
• Identifies, evaluates, and implements appropriate automation and mistake‑proofing (poka‑yoke) solutions to improve safety, quality, and throughput.
• Develops process risk assessments (PFMEA) and appropriate control plans; ensures compliance and sustainment on the shop floor.
• Recommends improvements to, replacements of, or additional equipment to maximize quality production and minimize downtime.
• Directs and participates in administrative requirements to ensure all team obligations are completed accurately and on time.
• Champions ISO conformance and drives 5S culture through the engineering and production teams.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing/industrial/mechanical/Ceramic/Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Manufacturing/process engineering leadership experience, hands‑on support of production in a high-mix or production environment, cross‑functional project leadership.
• Leadership, Communication, Problem Solving, Decision‑Making, Organization, Analytical, Team Development, Performance Monitoring, Lean/CI, Process Improvement, Influence, Conflict Resolution, Time Management, proficiency with MS Office; comfortable with ERP/MES, data analysis, and technical documentation; professionalism; change management; effective presentation.
• 5–7 years of manufacturing engineering leadership experience; ceramics or similar process industry preferred. Combustion experience with kilns a plus.
• Advanced SPC/DOE, cost and variance analysis, facilities/utilities understanding related to thermal processes.
• Certifications:
  
  Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), OSHA 10/30, ASQ CQE/CMQ‑OE, PMP, CTME, forklift.

• None.

• Extensive walking and standing.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to access all areas of the facility (warehouse, production floor, mezzanines, and docks).
• Willing and able to work in environments that may be hot, humid, dusty, and noisy; adherence to safe work practices and PPE is…