Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title:
Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Location:
Cleveland, OH

Business Unit:
Team Wendy

About Avon Technologies:

We are a world leader in protective equipment, with a reputation for innovative design, high-performance quality and specialist materials expertise. Our two brands, Avon Protection and Team Wendy, supply our respiratory and head protection portfolio to customers across the globe from our manufacturing sites in the UK and North America. With over 900 talented people our shared purpose and core beliefs are to be #FIERCE about Protecting Lives.

It's why we come to work - and it's what motivates us, every day, to do the best work we can.

Purpose of Position:

We are looking for a driven, creative, and analytical thinker with the main responsibility of ensuring continuous operation of ballistic helmet manufacturing Value Streams by leading our supporting engineers in assisting with identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving line stoppage issues. You will drive process stability and efficiency through root cause analysis and corrective actions

To be successful as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer you should demonstrate a sound understanding of industrial processes and concepts, be able to work well in a team, and contribute to the overall goals of the team. Outstanding Senior Manufacturing Engineers are self-starters with an insatiable curiosity, a superb work ethic, and strong interpersonal skills. We are looking for a candidate that has a strong work ethic and ability to pivot across multiple projects and tasks in a high energy environment.

Essential Duties and/or Functions:

• Lead advanced troubleshooting and resolution of complex manufacturing issues impacting production efficiency and quality.
• Drive strategic process improvements using Lean, the Avon Strengthen System, and other advanced methodologies to optimize throughput and reduce waste.
• Develop and implement long-term manufacturing strategies aligned with organizational goals and cost targets.
• Oversee design and validation of sophisticated tooling, fixtures, and automation systems to support high-volume, low-defect production. Manage cross-functional projects involving R&D, quality assurance, and operations to ensure seamless product introduction and process integration.
• Establish and maintain robust process control systems, including statistical process control (SPC) and failure mode analysis. Mentor and provide technical guidance to Manufacturing Engineers and production teams to build organizational capability. Evaluate and select advanced manufacturing technologies and equipment to improve scalability and competitiveness.
• Collaborate with suppliers and vendors on technical specifications, qualification, and continuous improvement of materials and components. Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality standards across all manufacturing operations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for processes, tooling, and equipment, ensuring adherence to best practices. Lead cost-reduction initiatives through design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and process optimization.
• Serve as technical authority for manufacturing during new product development, ensuring readiness for full-scale production.

Required/

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with demonstrated leadership in process improvement and technical problem-solving.
• Proven ability to lead complex root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, methodologies, and continuous improvement tools. Strong project management skills with experience driving cross-functional initiatives.
• Expertise in tooling design, automation, and process validation for high-volume production (poka-yoke, vision systems, error-proofing). Excellent communication skills for influencing stakeholders and leading technical discussions.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills for developing standards, procedures, and reports. Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership within the organization.
• Demonstrated capability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional CI initiatives and major capital projects (> $250k), from business case through commissioning.
• Expert-level design-for-manufacturability/assembly (DFM/DFA), GD&T, tolerance stack, and process capability (Cp/Cpk) with robust SPC/MSA deployment.
• Deep experience with control plans, PFMEA, and structured problem solving (5-Why, fishbone) applied in high-mix, safety-critical manufacturing.
• Controls familiarity sufficient to partner with maintenance/controls engineering:
  Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, industrial sensors, and basic ladder logic review.

Desired Qualifications

• Proven leadership of cross-functional CI initiatives and major capital projects (> $250k).…