Manufacturing Engineer - New Product Introduction (NPI)

Communications & Power Industries (CPI)•Kilgore, TX

About The Position

The New Product Introduction (NPI) Manufacturing Engineer bridges product design and manufacturability early in the development lifecycle. The role supports accelerated time-to-market, cost alignment, and smooth transitions from concept and prototype builds to full-scale production. Working at the intersection of design engineering and manufacturing, the engineer helps translate design intent into scalable manufacturing processes, identify risks, and prepare products for production launch, with guidance from senior team members. This hands-on role involves collaborating with R&D, design engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations. It includes developing manufacturing processes and documentation, designing tooling and fixtures, using 3D CAD and rapid prototyping, managing BOMs and cost models, leading pilot builds, resolving production issues, and supporting quality and compliance. The position requires travel up to 40% domestically and the ability to perform hands-on work in a manufacturing environment, including lifting up to 50 lbs as needed.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
5–8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, NPI, or product industrialization.
Proven track record of successfully launching new products into production.
Experience in cross-functional, fast-paced development environments.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as machining, assembly, and fabrication.
Experience with DFM/DFA principles.
Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings and CAD models.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and BOM management.
Knowledge of quality systems, including control plans, PFMEA, and root cause analysis.
Proficiency in 3D CAD solid modeling.
Experience designing 3D manufacturing fixtures and tooling.
Ability to develop design-phase cost estimates and manufacturing cost models.
Experience creating and optimizing process flow diagrams with measurable improvements.
Ability to perform hands-on work in a manufacturing environment and lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
Ability to travel up to 40% domestically.
Highly self-driven, with the ability to operate with minimal oversight.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Effective communication skills and ability to influence cross-functional teams.
Results-oriented, with a focus on execution and accountability.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with 3D printing or additive prototyping.

Responsibilities

Lead product transitions from prototype through pilot builds to full-scale production, ensuring readiness across tooling, equipment, documentation, and workforce training.
Evaluate designs early for manufacturability risks, cost drivers, and scalability concerns, and provide actionable feedback to design teams.
Coordinate between R&D, design engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations to align product design with manufacturing capabilities.
Develop, implement, and validate manufacturing processes, including work instructions, process flow diagrams, control plans, and tooling and fixture requirements.
Design and develop manufacturing tooling, 3D fixtures, and build aids to improve repeatability and throughput.
Use 3D CAD solid modeling for manufacturability reviews, fixture design, and process validation.
Use rapid prototyping and 3D printing where appropriate to accelerate development and reduce tooling lead time.
Develop and manage BOMs aligned with manufacturing strategy, ensuring accuracy, cost control, and scalability.
Develop early-stage cost models, identify cost drivers, and drive design or process changes to achieve target cost before production launch.
Lead pilot builds and production trials, resolve issues, validate processes, and drive readiness for full-rate production.
Troubleshoot production issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
Optimize workflows and develop or streamline process flows to improve efficiency, quality, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.
Quantify improvements using metrics such as cycle time, labor efficiency, cost savings, and yield; present data-driven justifications for process changes and tooling investments.
Ensure products and processes meet applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality benchmarks.