Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Meet the Recruiter:
Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state‑of‑the‑art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary:

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager leads a team of engineers to drive innovation and continuous improvement in commercial-scale battery cell manufacturing. This role is responsible for overseeing material introductions, process enhancements, and new battery model implementations to achieve world‑class quality, safety, and efficiency. The Manager collaborates closely with leadership to align engineering efforts with organizational goals and promote sustainable growth. Strong people management and technical expertise are essential to coach the team, optimize production, and leverage data‑driven insights for operational excellence.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Oversee and participate in material introduction, experimentation, and process improvement for cell manufacturing processes on a commercial scale
• Analyze and optimize production processes to ensure safety, maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and achieve world‑class quality levels cost‑effectively
• Apply technical expertise to innovate, design, and develop processes, procedures, equipment, tooling, and cell formulations
• Enable data‑driven operational and financial decisions through predictive insights on tool and process performance, including integrating factory data systems and utilizing MySQL, Python, JMP, Tableau, and Ignition software
• Create and maintain standard work instructions for assigned processes
• Monitor and audit manufacturing processes to ensure product specifications and standards are achieved

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate with the General Manager to establish systems and standards promoting sustainability and growth in technical, organizational, and people development areas
• Lead continuous improvement projects (CIP) to maximize yield, capacity, and capability
• Utilize structured problem‑solving techniques such as Design of Experiments (DoE), Five Whys (5W), and Eight Disciplines (8D)
• Monitor and reduce process variation using techniques such as Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Lead the engineering team in developing and implementing advanced measurement and control systems to enhance OEE, product quality, and reliability continuously
• Interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; and address complaints and resolve problems

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work with cross‑functional teams to develop, validate, and improve manufacturing equipment and design manufacturability

Quality, Safety, Compliance, &

Risk Management:

• Lead the development and maintenance of FMEAs and Control Plans

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position provides direct supervision to engineering staff, including responsibility for hiring, onboarding, performance evaluation, coaching, and disciplinary actions

Travel Requirement:

• Minimal travel required; primarily…