NPN Manager

Ascentec Engineering LLC•Tualatin, OR

1d•$110,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ascentec Engineering is seeking an NPN Manager to lead hands-on development of precision-machined prototypes, from early concepts through demonstrated manufacturing feasibility. The role guides a small team of manufacturing engineers and development machinists, turns incomplete designs into practical build plans, and helps resolve difficult machining problems alongside the team. This position combines CNC machining expertise with day-to-day people leadership. The manager helps engineers and machinists learn from each build, develops practical manufacturing methods, and prepares an evidence-based handoff to the New Product Introduction (NPI) team. Hands-on experience machining semiconductor equipment components is strongly preferred. The position is onsite and is not eligible for visa sponsorship or transfer of visa sponsorship. Applicants must be able to pass a drug screen and criminal background check before employment. ITAR eligibility applies: the employee must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations. Ascentec Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Strong hands-on precision CNC machining experience demonstrated through personally owned setup, programming, tooling, workholding, or prove-out work.
Experience developing prototypes, first articles, or low-volume parts when the manufacturing method was not established.
Ability to read engineering drawings, interpret tolerances and GD&T, and work with inspection teams to verify critical requirements.
Experience leading machinists or engineers, setting priorities, coaching technical performance, and taking responsibility for team results.
Practical problem-solving skills, including identifying risks, testing assumptions, using inspection evidence, and explaining why a process is ready for the next development stage.
Ability to coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and planning; document decisions clearly; and communicate technical trade-offs to internal partners and customer engineers when assigned.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily; reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request, absent undue hardship.
Ability to pass a drug screen and criminal background check before employment.
Must meet the stated ITAR eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on machining or process development for semiconductor equipment components, including translating customer requirements into machining, inspection, and qualification evidence.
Advanced CNC programming, complex workholding, challenging geometries, or tight-tolerance first-part prove-out experience.
Experience building a small development team and transferring prototype methods into NPI and repeatable manufacturing.
Relevant technical education, apprenticeship, or equivalent applied manufacturing training.

Responsibilities

Lead CNC process development by selecting operation sequences, tooling, workholding, and setup strategies; reviewing CAM programs; supporting first-part prove-out; and troubleshooting machining problems on the shop floor.
Translate design intent into feasibility plans with engineering and quality, identifying critical features, tolerance and GD&T requirements, inspection methods, material needs, and unresolved specifications before builds begin.
Plan focused trials with learning objectives and acceptance criteria, and record processes, inspection results, failures, corrective actions, and remaining risks.
Provide DFM and quoting input based on operation-level assumptions for material, setup, machining, tooling, inspection, and expected yield; explain technical trade-offs and make-versus-buy options.
Manage development workload, assign accountable owners, and coordinate machine time, materials, inspection, and outside processes; escalate capacity conflicts and technical blockers early and base commitments on readiness and available resources.
Coach engineers and machinists through regular individual and team reviews, set expectations, create individual development plans, and capture experienced machinists’ knowledge in methods others can use.
Maintain safe work practices, revision traceability, and controls for development hardware; coordinate with quality and engineering on applicable customer requirements and approval needs.
Prepare NPN-to-NPI turnover packages covering revision, process sequence, tooling and fixtures, CAM status, setup instructions, inspection evidence, cost assumptions, and open risks; confirm receiving-team acceptance before completing the handoff.