Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Lead Manufacturing Engineer

The Lead Manufacturing Engineer drives operational efficiency and continuous improvement within an electronics assembly and test environment. This role leads major improvement initiatives, supports and develops manufacturing and test engineers, and ensures that all manufacturing processes comply with IPC and industry standards. Working closely with Operations and other leaders, the Manufacturing Engineer oversees process development, supports new product introduction, and serves as a key technical liaison for customers and suppliers.

The position requires strong technical expertise in electronic and PCB manufacturing, proven process management capabilities, and excellent relationship-building skills to advance manufacturing strategies and enhance overall operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead major continuous improvement initiatives in an electronics assembly and test environment to achieve measurable gains in operational efficiency.
• Support, guide, and help develop manufacturing and test engineers, as well as Engineering Production Services, to ensure strong technical support for production operations.
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager to ensure the site is technically and organizationally capable of supporting all required manufacturing activities.
• Manage all manufacturing process development and improvement activities in compliance with IPC, AS9100, customer, and in-house standards.
• Act as a primary technical contact for customers, OEMs, vendors, and suppliers, and contribute to the development of strategic plans with other leaders.
• Coordinate the work of engineers, technicians, and other support personnel, and interact effectively with marketing, accounting, supply chain, manufacturing, PCB layout, and customers.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve manufacturing process problems, including production downtime, low efficiency, and quality deviations, in a timely manner.
• Provide specific feedback and coaching, and create challenging assignments and opportunities that support the career development of engineering staff.
• Develop and refine processes for front-end engineering, new product introduction (NPI) processing, and post-delivery "lessons learned" communication to continuously improve future builds.
• Participate in the review of customer contracts and engineering designs by outlining manufacturing requirements, constraints, and key considerations.
• Drive manufacturing engineering strategies to meet customer requirements and recommend capabilities within the organization's manufacturing and engineering services.
• Coordinate labor quoting activities across multiple sites to support accurate and competitive proposals.
• Demonstrate advanced functional, technical, and people-management skills, along with strong internal and external customer relationship capabilities across multiple industry areas.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of experience in electronic or PCB manufacturing, with PCB manufacturing experience highly desirable.
• Strong experience in manufacturing engineering within electronics assembly and test environments.
• Hands-on experience with wave soldering processes.
• Proficiency with ERP and MRP systems used in manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of SMT (surface mount technology) processes and equipment.
• Familiarity with AS9100 and IPC standards and the ability to apply them in process development and improvement.
• Experience using or supporting equipment from Universal and Mycronic (MyChronic) or similar SMT platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to interface directly with customers in a technical capacity.
• Proven ability to coordinate and lead cross-functional engineering and support teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills for addressing production downtime, efficiency issues, and quality deviations.
• Advanced people and process management skills, including coaching and performance development.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience participating in contract and design reviews and translating requirements into manufacturing considerations.
• Experience in developing and refining front-end engineering and NPI processes.
• Experience implementing post-delivery feedback and "lessons learned" mechanisms to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to contribute to strategic planning related to manufacturing and engineering capabilities.
• Experience coordinating labor quoting activities across multiple sites or business units.
• Exposure to electronic manufacturing and PCB manufacturing environments with a focus on quality and efficiency.
• Comfort working closely with marketing, accounting, supply chain, and PCB layout teams to support program objectives.

Work Environment

The role is based fully onsite in a manufacturing facility of roughly 200 people, providing a close-knit and collaborative environment. The Lead Manufacturing Engineer works closely with a team of engineers and cross-functional departments,…