Engineering Manager

Altek Inc•Liberty Lake, WA

20d

About The Position

The Engineering Manager will manage engineering personnel and processes beginning with customer engagement through new product introduction and sustained production. This role requires a strong technical background in injection molding and precision machining manufacturing processes. A solid understanding of Aerospace, Defense, Medical, and advanced manufacturing specifications and quality systems is required. The Engineering Manager is responsible for engineering leadership, manufacturing process development, technical customer engagement, and KPI monitoring and reporting. This role ensures that customer requirements, quality standards, and financial objectives are achieved while supporting operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

B.S. in Engineering or related experience that supports the Job Roles & Duties as listed below.
Five (5) or more years of engineering management or leadership experience.
Experience in a manufacturing environment with emphasis on Injection Molding and Precision Machining industries.
Experience leading New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.
Experience in Lean Six Sigma practices or other continuous improvement methodologies.
SolidWorks or other related CAD experience desired.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong planning and analytical skills.
Proven leadership and team building skills.
Ability to multi-task and adapt to changing environments and demands.
Time-management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
Working knowledge of the technical concepts of injection molding, precision machining, assembly processes, and design for manufacturability.
Knowledge of applicable quality systems such as AS9100, ISO 9001, or ISO 13485 preferred.
Possess comprehensive reading, analytical, and communication skills.
Ability to set priorities and remain well organized in a fast-paced, multifaceted work environment.
Advanced understanding of injection molding processes, mold construction criteria, and machining principles.
Commitment to self-development through formal and informal learning experiences.
Actively participate in and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Maintain a positive outlook and treat co-workers with respect and professionalism.
Strong planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrate mental agility and maintain unquestioned personal and professional ethics.
Ability to lead teams, facilitate meetings, and work effectively in a collaborative environment.
Ability to manage NPI project planning and adjust project plans as situations change.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace, Defense, or Medical manufacturing experience preferred.
SolidWorks or other related CAD experience desired.
Knowledge of applicable quality systems such as AS9100, ISO 9001, or ISO 13485 preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the engineering team including manufacturing engineers, process engineers, project/NPI engineers, and engineering technicians.
Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and development plans for engineering staff.
Conduct regular performance evaluations and support professional growth and succession planning.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Assist the corporate sales force by providing technical support relative to account development and new business opportunities.
Serve as a primary technical interface between customers and internal manufacturing teams.
Participate in design reviews and provide recommendations regarding manufacturability, material selection, cost optimization, and process feasibility.
Resolve technical challenges and escalations to maintain strong customer relationships and satisfaction.
Review customer design data for manufacturability, functionality, quality requirements, and cost effectiveness.
Utilize and apply value analysis, value engineering, DFM/DFA, and APQP tools as necessary.
Coordinate with customers and outside design services to meet design objectives and manufacturing capabilities.
Provide technical guidance regarding tooling, materials, and processing methods.
Provide customers with both hard and budgetary quotes for new products and tooling.
Ensure quoted pricing accurately reflects the true cost of manufacturing processes to maintain profitability.
Work collaboratively with operations and finance to ensure alignment between quoted assumptions and actual production performance.
Lead engineering activities associated with new product introduction from concept through production launch.
Work with Production Departments to establish and optimize manufacturing processes to produce finished products in accordance with customer specifications.
Coordinate and evaluate processing window studies, capability studies, and validation activities.
Oversee First Article Inspection (FAI) and pilot production runs.
Develop work instructions, control plans, and supporting manufacturing documentation.
Ensure BOM accuracy and validate BOM against quoted assumptions and actual production performance.
Manage project timelines and customer deliverables utilizing CPM, Gantt charts, or other project management tools as necessary.
Ensure projects meet customer specifications, timelines, and quality expectations.
Lead development and validation of robust manufacturing processes for injection molding, precision machining, and secondary operations such as assembly, painting, and finishing.
Analyze manufacturing data to improve process capability, yield, and efficiency.
Identify root causes of quality or process issues and implement corrective actions.
Champion Lean Six Sigma initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
Coordinate engineering changes including part revisions, tooling modifications, material substitutions, and process updates.
Maintain configuration control and ensure documentation integrity.
Review and update BOM structures to maintain accuracy with production processes and cost structures.
Support production teams in resolving ongoing manufacturing challenges.
Research, evaluate, and develop new manufacturing processes, materials, and technologies to support customer needs and organizational growth.
Evaluate automation opportunities and new equipment to improve productivity and quality.
Support long-term manufacturing strategy and technology advancement.
Monitor and report key engineering and manufacturing KPIs including: NPI on-time delivery First pass yield Scrap and rework rates Quote vs. actual manufacturing performance Process capability metrics (Cp/Cpk) Use performance data to drive accountability and continuous improvement initiatives.