Manufacturing Engineering Manager
About The Position
The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will lead manufacturing readiness activities for products transitioning from prototype to production. This role involves developing and maintaining essential documentation like routings, work instructions, and labor standards, while ensuring Bills of Materials (BOMs), drawings, and specifications are production-ready. The manager will coordinate first-article builds and production launches, and collaborate with Product/Design Engineering and Operations to resolve manufacturability issues. A key responsibility is identifying and addressing engineering gaps that hinder production efficiency. The role also supports the release of work orders, troubleshoots manufacturing engineering issues, and improves the consistency of work execution. For rapid prototyping and new product introductions, the manager will lead engineering activities, providing hands-on support, especially in sheet metal fabrication, and translating designs into practical manufacturing processes. Continuous improvement is central, with a focus on leading Lean and Six Sigma initiatives, analyzing production data, and optimizing cell layouts and workflows to reduce waste. Managing the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process and ensuring effective implementation of changes on the production floor are critical. The manager will also lead or participate in root cause analysis for defects and support quality system compliance. Finally, the role involves leading and developing a small manufacturing engineering team, setting priorities, assigning work, and fostering team growth.
Requirements
- 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience
- Previous experience leading or managing manufacturing engineering employees or technical teams
- 3+ years of hands-on sheet metal manufacturing experience
- Experience with rapid prototyping and new product introduction (NPI)
- Experience developing routings, work instructions, and labor standards
- Working knowledge of BOMs, drawings, specifications, and engineering change processes
- Strong background in Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma
- Demonstrated experience solving manufacturing and production problems cross-functionally
- Experience working in or improving an established manufacturing environment
- Hands-on leader who is comfortable working directly with the team and on the manufacturing floor
- Takes ownership and follows issues through to resolution
- Comfortable working in an environment where processes continue to evolve
- Able to establish structure and improve processes without overcomplicating them
- Uses data and practical problem-solving to make decisions
- Collaborates effectively across Engineering, Operations, and Quality
- Willing to ask for support and escalate issues when appropriate
- Motivated by continuous improvement and helping modernize manufacturing operations
Responsibilities
- Lead manufacturing readiness activities for products moving from prototype through production
- Develop and maintain routing, work instructions, and labor standards
- Ensure BOMs, drawings, and specifications are complete and ready for production
- Coordinate first-article builds and production launches
- Partner with Product/Design Engineering and Operations to resolve manufacturability issues
- Identify and address engineering gaps that create production delays, rework, or inefficiencies
- Support the release of work orders into production systems
- Ensure jobs have the engineering information and documentation needed for successful execution
- Troubleshoot manufacturing engineering issues affecting production
- Improve consistency in how work moves from order to instruction to build
- Partner with Operations to address production constraints and recurring issues
- Lead manufacturing engineering activities for prototypes and new product introductions
- Provide hands-on support for prototyping, particularly in sheet metal fabrication
- Translate product concepts and designs into practical manufacturing processes
- Develop repeatable processes for moving new products into production
- Identify manufacturability risks early and work cross-functionally to resolve them
- Lead and support Lean and Six Sigma improvement initiatives within manufacturing
- Analyze labor, cycle times, workflow, and production constraints
- Improve cell layouts, material flow, ergonomics, and standard work
- Identify opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, and non-value-added labor
- Partner with Operations on Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities
- Track results and ensure improvements are sustained
- Manage the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process within manufacturing
- Ensure engineering changes are communicated and implemented effectively on the production floor
- Lead or participate in root cause analysis for engineering-related defects
- Develop and implement corrective actions in partnership with Quality and Operations
- Support ISO requirements and quality system compliance
- Identify recurring issues and help drive permanent solutions
- Lead and develop a small manufacturing engineering team, currently consisting of two direct reports
- Set clear priorities, expectations, and accountability for the team
- Assign and manage day-to-day manufacturing engineering work
- Coach and develop team members while building stronger technical capability
- Establish practical processes and structure where additional clarity or consistency is needed
- Escalate significant risks, resource needs, and priorities to manufacturing leadership
Benefits
- 401k
- Health, dental, vision and life insurance
- Vacation / PTO policy
- Professional development
- Career advancement opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
