Principal Manufacturing Engineering

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Cognex is the largest, most successful and recognized global player in industrial machine vision! We are a financially strong, international company with no debt and have been in business for over 40 years. Using advanced optics, image sensors and artificial intelligence software Cognex vision and  capture an image then analyze it to make sense of what's being seen. We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, guided by our "Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast" culture, which celebrates employee innovation, determination, and dedication in a dynamic, fun, and distinctive atmosphere.

The Operations Engineering organization at Cognex is responsible for delivering world-class cost, quality, and delivery performance to customers globally. We partner closely with product design teams, supply chain, sourcing, and product marketing to develop and support innovative machine vision products throughout their lifecycle from component level to the vision system that is delivered to the customer. These teams and our suppliers are located all over the world, requiring adaptive, collaborative, and succinct communication to execute.

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer is a senior technical contributor who leads complex manufacturing initiatives and small project teams to improve efficiency, quality, and cost across Cognex's production portfolio. This role supports mass-production products and processes while also influencing product design, manufacturing strategy, and operational decision-making.

Operating with broad direction, this engineer applies manufacturing expertise to lead execution of solutions to complex, cross-functional problems and drive measurable business impact through capability improvements, cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Lead manufacturing-focused initiatives that improve cost, quality, delivery, and manufacturability across mass-production products
• Apply strong understanding of supplier capabilities and limitations to influence design decisions, sourcing strategies, and cost-reduction opportunities
• Support and improve assembly, test, and inspection processes, including fixture design and process optimization
• Influence materials selection and product designs to achieve an optimal balance of performance, cost, risk, and manufacturability
• Lead and execute structured prototyping and manufacturing experiments to evaluate design, process, and material changes, and successfully transfer validated solutions into high-volume mass production environments
• Serve as a technical leader for small functional teams, guiding others through complex manufacturing and quality challenges
• Investigate and resolve complex quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies, drive corrective and preventive actions across suppliers and internal teams
• Analyze production and quality data, identify systemic issues, and lead initiatives that deliver sustainable efficiency and yield improvements

Competencies:

• Strong background in Design for Manufacturability (DFM), including die castings, injection molding, cable assemblies, surface treatments, and precision electromechanical assemblies
• Experience with should-cost modeling, cost breakdowns, and supplier cost analysis is strongly preferred
• Proficient in CAD tools (Solid Works preferred)
• Willingness or experience in mentoring or coaching junior engineers
• Proven ability to plan and execute projects based on KPIs or department strategies, recommending appropriate resources and managing risk
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions that balance technical and business needs
• Excellent communicator, capable of working directly with global suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal design teams, including participation in off-hours meetings when required
• Experience with engineering documentation, change control, and formal qualification processes

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent discipline
• 10+ years of experience supporting mechanical or electro-mechanical products in…