Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Job Summary: The Manufacturing Engineering Manager leads a team of engineers to drive innovation and continuous improvement in commercial-scale battery cell manufacturing. This role is responsible for overseeing material introductions, process enhancements, and new battery model implementations to achieve world-class quality, safety, and efficiency. The Manager collaborates closely with leadership to align engineering efforts with organizational goals and promote sustainable growth. Strong people management and technical expertise are essential to coach the team, optimize production, and leverage data-driven insights for operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
• 5+ years of progressive engineering experience
• Strong technical aptitude with demonstrated expertise in battery manufacturing processes and tooling
• Proficiency with data analytics and factory data systems, including experience using MySQL, Python, JMP, Tableau, Ignition, or equivalent tools to support data-driven decision-making
• Proven ability to analyze complex production data and optimize processes for quality, safety, and efficiency
• Effective leadership skills with a passion for developing and coaching teams, including experience managing engineers and technical staff
• Excellent communication skills with working proficiency in English (reading, writing, speaking) to collaborate across global teams
• Strong analytic and decision-making abilities with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders
• Alignment with Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, and gratitude)
• To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is required and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Chemical, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE – SME)
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt
• Lean Manufacturing Certification (e.g., Lean Leader or Lean Enterprise Institute)
• Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE – ASQ)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• 7+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing, product development, design, or related fields
• 3+ years of experience in a management or technical leadership role
• Experience with battery manufacturing and high-speed robotic assembly processes
• Experience working in high-volume manufacturing environments (e.g., 1M+ units/day capacity)
• Strong knowledge of regulatory, safety, and quality compliance standards (e.g., ISO, IATF, OSHA)
• Hands-on experience leading continuous improvement projects using Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and structured problem-solving methods such as Design of Experiments (DoE), Five Whys (5W), and Eight Disciplines (8D)
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and globally with resilience and adaptability in fast-paced environments
• Resilient, self-motivated, and able to perform well under pressure

Responsibilities

• Oversee and participate in material introduction, experimentation, and process improvement for cell manufacturing processes on a commercial scale
• Analyze and optimize production processes to ensure safety, maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and achieve world-class quality levels cost-effectively
• Apply technical expertise to innovate, design, and develop processes, procedures, equipment, tooling, and cell formulations
• Enable data-driven operational and financial decisions through predictive insights on tool and process performance, including integrating factory data systems and utilizing MySQL, Python, JMP, Tableau, and Ignition software
• Create and maintain standard work instructions for assigned processes
• Monitor and audit manufacturing processes to ensure product specifications and standards are achieved
• Collaborate with the General Manager to establish systems and standards promoting sustainability and growth in technical, organizational, and people development areas
• Lead continuous improvement projects (CIP) to maximize yield, capacity, and capability
• Utilize structured problem-solving techniques such as Design of Experiments (DoE), Five Whys (5W), and Eight Disciplines (8D)
• Monitor and reduce process variation using techniques such as Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA)
• Lead the engineering team in developing and implementing advanced measurement and control systems to enhance OEE, product quality, and reliability continuously
• Interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; and address complaints and resolve problems
• Work with cross-functional teams to develop, validate, and improve manufacturing equipment and design manufacturability
• Lead the development and maintenance of FMEAs and Control Plans
• This position provides direct supervision to engineering staff, including responsibility for hiring, onboarding, performance evaluation, coaching, and disciplinary actions

Benefits

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees