Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Winchester Interconnect•Orange, CA

10d•$120,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and mentoring the Manufacturing Engineering team to ensure efficient, reliable, and scalable production of connectors, cable assemblies, and related components. This role oversees process design, equipment improvement, workflow optimization, and the implementation of manufacturing best practices to support safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field required.
7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, preferably in connectors, cables, or electromechanical assembly.
3+ years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
Strong knowledge of cable assembly, connector manufacturing, crimping, soldering, molding, and electro-mechanical assembly processes.
Experience with Lean / Six Sigma methodologies (certification preferred).
Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and ERP/MRP systems.
Familiarity with process validation, DOE, and statistical analysis.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively.
Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail and continuous improvement focus.
Ability to move around the production floor, lift up to 25 lbs occasionally, and work near manufacturing equipment.

Nice To Haves

Lean / Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Process Engineers, ensuring clear goals, coaching, and professional development.
Identify, analyze, and improve manufacturing processes to reduce waste, enhance productivity, and improve product quality using lean principles and Six Sigma methodologies.
Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives, such as time studies on the shop floor, recommending changes and implementing solutions based on data-driven insights.
Prioritize and assign engineering projects based on business needs, customer requirements, and production constraints.
Oversee the design, development, and optimization of manufacturing processes for connectors, cable assemblies, and electromechanical components.
Establish IE fundamentals including standard time, capacity and manpower models.
Perform capacity, manpower and bottleneck analysis.
Ensure processes meet quality, safety, and regulatory requirements (e.g., IPC/WHMA standards, ISO 9001).
Approve process documentation, standard work, PFMEAs, control plans, and work instructions.
Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase throughput.
Own projects that improve equipment reliability, reduce cycle time, and increase manufacturing capacity.
Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for production issues, quality concerns, and customer complaints.
Manage the selection, procurement, installation, and validation of equipment and tooling.
Oversee preventive maintenance strategies in partnership with Operations and Maintenance teams.
Ensure engineering support for crimping automation, soldering processes, molding, testing equipment, and cable cutting/stripping technologies.
Work closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product Engineering to support new product introduction (NPI) and ensure new line set up and manufacturability.
Partner with Quality Engineering to maintain process capability and reduce defects.
Collaborate with Production Planning to address capacity constraints and forecast future needs.
Work closely with Manufacturing Engineers, Production, Quality, Planning, and Finance.
Track and report engineering performance metrics (e.g., scrap, efficiency, downtime, yield).
Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
Maintain accurate documentation of processes, equipment specs, and engineering changes.
Foster a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement, accountability, and problem-solving.
Support ERP data setup (routing, work center, labor time).