Manufacturing Engineering Team Leader

thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc. is a world class manufacturer of suspension solutions headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio USA. Thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America supplies products to a wide range of Original Equipment Automotive Manufacturers as well as Aftermarket and Motorsports customers. Our Aftermarket operations are based out of Poway, CA and our Motorsports operations are based out of Mooresville, NC.

For decades, the name BILSTEIN has been synonymous with high tech in suspension design, driving comfort, and safety. In order to expand this position BILSTEIN became a division of thyssenkrupp Technologies AG in 1988, and a wholly owned subsidiary in 2005. This partnership has enabled us to continue the BILSTEIN tradition of excellence.

The Team Leader for Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for guiding and overseeing the daily operations of the manufacturing engineering team, ensuring the continuous improvement of processes, safety, quality, and efficiency in the manufacturing environment. This role involves directing the team’s efforts in troubleshooting, process optimization, equipment qualification, and training while implementing lean manufacturing principles. The Team Leader will also be accountable for managing projects, coordinating with other departments, and driving the team to meet both operational and customer expectations.

• Maintain a safe working environment by ensuring compliance with all safety and environmental policies and procedures. Advocate for safety by reporting hazards and promoting the use of required PPE.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the manufacturing engineering team, creating goals and ensuring alignment with company goals and project objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement projects, focusing on process optimization, equipment performance, and troubleshooting, with a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Manage and oversee the layout and organization of the manufacturing area, ensuring adherence to 6S principles and other operational standards.
• Coordinate with the Quality, Maintenance, Product Engineering, and Logistics teams to resolve operational issues and ensure smooth production flows.
• Lead cross‑functional teams to develop, implement, and maintain PFMEAs (Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis) and other quality control initiatives.
• Collaborate with MPP to ensure successful project handoffs and operational readiness.
• Direct the development, review, and continuous improvement of work instructions, and training materials.
• Track and manage budgets for ongoing projects, capital improvements, and other department expenses.
• Lead Improvement activities from analyzing data from OEE, MTTR, MTBF from downtime, and other performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and recommend corrective actions.
• Understanding Key Operational metric for ensure evaluating and important to the process.
• Oversee the development of training programs for manufacturing operators, engineering technicians, and staff on process improvements, changeovers, and maintenance procedures.
• Serve as the point of contact for the implementation of new technologies, tools, and production techniques.
• Track and manage departmental KPIs, ensuring the team meets deliverables and deadlines.

• Proven leadership experience in managing a team, providing guidance, and removing roadblocks to ensure project success.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles (6S, Kaizen, SMED, VSM) and their application in process improvement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), and familiar with CAD software (2D & 3D).
• Strong project management skills with the ability to track multiple projects, meet deadlines, and manage budgets.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Analytical mindset with experience in data‑driven problem solving and root cause analysis.
• Experience with equipment qualification, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of regional Bilstein Production Equipment (Main, Final, Tube…)
• Expert on relevant Bilstein…