Manager, Engineering (Manufacturing

P09 - Elizabethtown, 2201 West Park Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States of America

Posted Friday, July 24, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Summit Polymers is a leading, global supplier of automotive interior systems including consoles, door panels, and instrument panels. With over 50 years serving the industry, we deliver engineering and product excellence to our customers, on time, in budget, with the latest innovations.

A career with Summit Polymers means working with smart people in a culture that thrives on challenging, meaningful work. At Summit, we look for growth potential with every hire. We don’t just fill seats, we set people on career paths. We’re always on the lookout for smart people who are committed to continuous improvement, customer service and quality.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Manager, Engineering (Manufacturing)
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: General Manager

SUMMARY

This is a technical and managerial position responsible for directing the manufacturing engineering team at a Summit Polymers manufacturing facility. While working collaboratively with plant and corporate resources in program development, the manufacturing engineering manager is responsible to develop and deliver robust product designs, tooling and processes to production. Typical tooling and processes include: injection molds, mold processing & automation, paint equipment & tooling, paint automation & processing, and secondary assembly equipment & processes.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager provides tooling and process support for three shift production operations through life of program. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is a champion of effective root cause problem solving and driving continuous improvement.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Is responsible for the following major tasks:

• Directs, prioritizes and schedules activities of subordinates to achieve plant and department performance objectives for safety, quality, productivity, and delivery
  • Ensures proper training of engineers and mentors them and other key personnel to ensure a competent workforce
• Owner of capable manufacturing processes throughout plant
  • Directs the development, validation, documentation, control of all:
    • Injection molding processes and molding automation systems
    • Paint processes, robot programs and paint automation systems
    • Assembly processes
    • All other processes
    • Develops standardized work (Operator Instruction Sheets) and trains key manufacturing personnel
  • Leads root cause problem solving and continuous improvement activities, working with manufacturing and maintenance, to solve problems related to safety, scrap, operational availability (machine up time), and productivity (cycle times)
  • Collaborates with the plant lean manufacturing team on eliminating waste and implementing lean tools and practices.
• Collaborates with corporate engineering, advanced manufacturing, and plant staff on new products in development and production engineering changes( ECs)
  • Provides necessary plant Manufacturing Engineering resources necessary to complete KBPD development
  • Participates in program quote development, provides feedback and assumptions based on customer data received, ensures quoted machine sizes, cycles times and scraps rates can be achieved
  • Reviews part and system design for manufacturability considering molding, painting, assembly, and packaging perspectives
  • Leads development and maintenance of PFMEAs
  • Participates in Mold Design Reviews, assessing designs for robust tooling conditions, process and part removal optimization, and ease of maintenance
  • Leads paint process planning and directs and reviews paint rack concepts and prototypes assessing ergonomics, density, part retention, and ability to paint all surfaces per requirements
  • Participates in assembly process planning, reviews machine design for safety, ergonomics, robustness, and productivity
  • Directs customer, internal, and supplier product packaging development.
  • Champions introduction of new product tooling and processes into plant, collaborating with plant staff to schedule, train, process, trial run, document as required to fully prepare for…