Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Manufacturing Engineering function to support safe, stable, and continuously improving production operations. This position provides direct leadership and development of Manufacturing Engineers while driving manufacturing excellence through process optimization, equipment and tooling improvements, lean manufacturing initiatives, and cross-functional project management.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing systems, processes, tooling, fixtures, CNC programming, inspection methods, automation initiatives, and workflow optimization. This role partners closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Supply Chain, and Plant Leadership to ensure operational objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost are achieved.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical expertise, leadership capability, project management skills, and a commitment to the Company's core values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Manufacturing Engineers.
• Establish departmental goals and objectives aligned with plant and company strategic initiatives.
• Manage employee performance through coaching, training, performance evaluations, and career development planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Prioritize engineering resources and assign projects to support production and business objectives.
• Promote adherence to company policies, safety requirements, and engineering standards.

Manufacturing Process Engineering

• Oversee the design, development, implementation, and improvement of manufacturing processes and systems.
• Lead efforts to improve manufacturing efficiency through workflow analysis, capacity planning, equipment utilization, and facility layout optimization.
• Ensure standardized and documented manufacturing processes are maintained and continuously improved.
• Support new product introductions and manufacturing process validation activities.
• Drive implementation of best practices in lean manufacturing, waste reduction, and operational excellence.

Tooling, Fixtures, and Equipment

• Direct the design and development of tooling, fixtures, gauges, dies, work holdings, and manufacturing equipment.
• Oversee projects involving:
• Molding tools
• Straightening fixtures and dies
• Custom inspection gauges
• CNC and assembly work holding systems
• Tool selection and optimization
• Automation systems and manufacturing equipment
• Dimensional inspection systems
• Review and approve engineering designs, drawings, and specifications.
• Coordinate with vendors and suppliers for tooling, equipment, and engineering services.

Quality and Inspection Systems

• Oversee development and implementation of inspection methodologies and quality assurance processes.
• Support statistical analysis, process capability studies, and root cause investigations.
• Ensure effective use of:
• Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM)
• Vision inspection systems
• Custom gauges and inspection fixtures
• Collaborate with Quality teams to improve process capability and product quality.

Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost reduction.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies to eliminate waste and improve operational performance.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping activities, and process improvement projects.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing engineering activities.
• Drive standardization and best-practice implementation across manufacturing operations.

Project Management

• Serve as engineering lead and project manager for manufacturing-related capital and process improvement projects.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, and resource requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies and equipment opportunities.
• Track project performance and communicate status updates to plant leadership.

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Support and promote a safe working environment through active participation in safety initiatives.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with OSHA requirements and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
• Partner with EHS personnel to identify and mitigate workplace hazards.
• Participate in safety training and ensure team compliance with required programs.
• Support environmental compliance efforts and sustainability initiatives.

Technical Leadership

• Maintain expertise in manufacturing technologies and industry best practices.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing methods, equipment, software, and automation technologies.
• Provide technical guidance and support to production,…