Sr. Manufacturing Engineer; Paint

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Paint leads manufacturing readiness and launch execution for new product introductions across multiple Polaris manufacturing sites. Focused on paint and related back shop operations, this role develops processes, labor plans, tooling, equipment, masking strategies, quality controls, and production readiness plans. Collaborating with product development, operations, quality, and manufacturing teams, you will help achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while providing readiness oversight for additional operations, including injection molding.

You can influence manufacturing strategy, support complex product launches, and drive operational readiness across multiple facilities.

• Lead manufacturing readiness activities and program deliverables for paint and related back shop operations from concept through start of production.
• Conduct Design for Manufacturing reviews and recommend improvements to manufacturability, quality, ergonomics, and cost.
• Collaborate with product engineering, operations, quality, manufacturing engineering, and subject matter experts to develop and execute launch plans.
• Develop labor estimates, capacity plans, paint consumption calculations, and manufacturing cost models to support program planning and execution.
• Define tooling, fixtures, masking systems, racks, carts, and equipment requirements for new product introductions.
• Support capital planning activities, including equipment specifications, supplier selection, procurement, runoffs, installation, and commissioning.
• Lead readiness activities for prototype, validation, pilot, and production-intent builds while managing risks and resolving issues.
• Partner with quality teams to establish appearance standards, validation requirements, and process control methods.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality, process, tooling, and launch-related challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on manufacturing efficiency, quality, standardization, and cost reduction.
• Prepare and present launch readiness updates, project risks, recommendations, and status reports to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Manage multiple projects and launch activities across manufacturing locations while maintaining schedules, budgets, and key deliverables.

• Collaboration:
  
  You work effectively with others across functions and levels, contributing to shared goals while respecting different perspectives.
• Problem Solving:
  You identify issues, assess root causes, and implement practical solutions that balance speed, quality, and risk.
• Technical / Functional Expertise:
  You apply the required technical or professional knowledge to perform your role effectively and stay current within your area of expertise.

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of manufacturing engineering experience, including paint, coatings, surface finishing, manufacturing launch activities, or related areas.
• Strong knowledge of paint processes, masking systems, tooling, fixtures, labor planning, and quality systems.
• Experience supporting new product introductions, including Design for Manufacturing reviews, pilot builds, validation activities, and…