Operations Development Lead Manufacturing Engineer - NPI

Wabtec•Erie, PA

12h•$79,100 - $112,800

About The Position

The Operations Development Lead Manufacturing Engineer - NPI leads the transition of new products and processes from engineering design into manufacturing and the supply chain. The role works closely with product engineering to define manufacturing requirements during new product development, manages cross-functional deliverables and schedules, tracks progress, and supports bringing products to market on time with expected quality and cost performance. The position manages projects from early design through production launch, serves as a liaison between functional groups and Manufacturing & Supply Chain, participates in design reviews, and guides development through Design for Manufacturing. The role works across product engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, test, installation, and service. It applies manufacturing and related operational methods to product designs, coordinates manufacturing readiness and launch activities, and manages programs using the NPI Tollgate process and DFSS rigor to validate offerings and mitigate risks before introduction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Engineering, Operations Management, or Applied Science.
At least 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment and product development.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally when needed to support Platform initiatives and global NPI’s.
Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Prior project management experience.
Experience with 3D model/CAD software.
Strong skills in print reading, wire schematic reading, and engineering specifications.
Experience with BOM (PLM) tools.
Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools such as Oracle or SAP.
Strong data analysis skills, including Microsoft Excel tools and macros.
Working knowledge of locomotive manufacturing, including fabrication, coatings, assembly, electrical, and test procedures.
Understanding of finance and business drivers, with the ability to communicate engineering changes and long-term plans.
Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to communicate across levels and within a complex matrix.
Strategic thinking skills, including identifying and mitigating risk.
Innovative thinking, ability to generate new ideas, and willingness to take risks to creatively solve issues.
Ability to manage complex multi-year technical programs in a matrix resource environment and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

Participate in early-stage product development and communicate expectations while ensuring the capture of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, Installation, and Service requirements.
Apply manufacturing, assembly, quality, sourcing, and service methods to new product designs and work with engineering to integrate functional principles early in the design process.
Conduct manufacturing readiness assessments and review engineering designs for transition to manufacturing and the supply chain.
Develop schedules for new product releases; set milestones; assess and mitigate risks; develop action plans; coordinate activities; and drive results across cross-functional teams.
Conduct regular project status meetings with the team and stakeholders to communicate and coordinate activities.
Deliver new products on time, within budget, and at expected quality and reliability levels.
Participate in initial build plans, drive material readiness with supply chain, and evaluate constraints.
Serve as the manufacturing liaison to Engineering and Operations to resolve technical problems.
Collaborate with Manufacturing to develop efficient product assembly methods, and design or specify manufacturing equipment, tooling, and processes as required.
Coordinate factory acceptance test requirements and execution.
Provide feedback to Engineering and Supply Chain on product rollout lessons learned and recommend future design and process improvements.
Identify and translate customer wants and needs into product features, offerings, and requirements, and identify enabling technologies needed to produce those offerings.
Define project requirements to meet program objectives, including investment (P&E), resource requirements, tollgate schedule, and budget.
Perform financial analysis, including engineering expense, investment budgeting, project benefits, and internal rate of return.
Manage program execution using the NPI Tollgate process and DFSS rigor to ensure CTQs are satisfied and new offerings are appropriately validated to mitigate risk before introduction.
Participate in design reviews and guide product development through Design for Manufacturing.