Process Engineering Manager
About The Position
The Process Engineering Manager leads the engineering team at nLIGHT’s Hillsboro site and is accountable for developing people, strengthening manufacturing processes, and delivering safe, reliable production performance. This onsite, hands-on technical leader applies technical expertise, sound judgment, and cross-functional collaboration to solve complex manufacturing challenges, improve operations, and transition new products into production. The role leads and develops engineers and technicians, works directly in production and engineering areas, and establishes ISO 9001/AS9100-compliant systems. It drives process, yield, cost, capacity, and equipment improvements, supports product manufacturability and production transitions, applies systems-engineering methods, and manages the production-equipment life cycle. The manager also partners across functions and sites, communicates risks and trade-offs, and ensures engineering work and process changes comply with applicable EHS requirements. The position is performed onsite in office, laboratory, cleanroom, and production environments. The role requires compliance with applicable safety and PPE requirements and the ability to work in a cleanroom and meet gowning, cleanliness, contamination-control, safety, and quality requirements. Candidates must be US Persons to qualify because the company is subject to US Export Control regulations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field and 6 or more years of increasingly responsible manufacturing or engineering experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- At least three years of engineering leadership experience, including hiring, developing, prioritizing work, providing feedback, and sustaining accountability.
- Direct manufacturing engineering experience with equipment, tooling, test systems, data analysis, production processes, and interpretation of engineering drawings and technical documentation.
- Experience developing products or processes involving lasers, optics, opto-mechanical systems, electronics, precision mechanical systems, power electronics, or hybrid microelectronic assembly, and transitioning prototypes or pilot processes into stable volume production.
- Demonstrated technical problem-solving and process-control experience using tools such as PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, measurement system analysis, capability analysis, and root-cause/corrective-action methods.
- Situational leadership and communication skills, including the ability to build consensus and explain technical risks, priorities, and decisions across functions, sites, and audiences.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing financial drivers, including labor, material, yield, scrap, cycle time, capacity, and equipment cost, and familiarity with ITAR, EAR, and controlled technical data requirements.
- Ability to travel up to 10%, including occasional overnight travel to customers, suppliers, training, or company locations.
- Must be a US Person (US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual granted asylum or refugee status) to qualify.
- Ability to work in a cleanroom environment and follow gowning, cleanliness, contamination-control, safety, and quality requirements.
- Ability to move throughout work areas and sit, stand, or walk for extended periods.
- Ability to frequently perform computer-based work, document review, and data entry.
- Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Nice To Haves
- Graduate degree in engineering or applied science, or equivalent industrial experience.
- Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certification, or demonstrated success applying Lean and Six Sigma methods.
- Direct technical experience with optical fibers, optical alignment, lasers, optical testing and metrology, precision assembly, complex test equipment, power, cooling, and tightly controlled mechanical or optical interfaces.
- Experience with engineering and data tools such as JMP, SQL, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, Power BI, or equivalent platforms.
- Experience in regulated, ISO-certified, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
Responsibilities
- Lead, develop, and coach engineers and technicians; establish clear priorities, accountability, and development plans.
- Work alongside the team in production and engineering areas to solve complex technical and manufacturing problems, remove barriers, and reinforce disciplined execution.
- Establish and sustain ISO 9001/AS9100-compliant systems and use data-driven methods, including PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, measurement system analysis, and root-cause/corrective action, to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and process performance.
- Lead process, yield, cost, capacity, and equipment improvements from concept through sustained production performance.
- Partner with design and product-development teams to improve manufacturability, testability, reliability, serviceability, and scalability, and transition products from prototype through volume production.
- Apply systems-engineering methods to integrate optical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, and test elements into robust, high-yield production processes.
- Manage the production-equipment life cycle, including requirements, procurement, installation, qualification, calibration, maintenance, spare parts, and obsolescence.
- Partner across functions and sites, evaluate relevant external technologies, communicate risks and trade-offs, and ensure engineering work and process changes follow applicable EHS requirements.
Benefits
- Target cash bonus of 6% of earned wages.
- Eligible for Restricted Stock Unit grants.
- Four weeks of paid time off per year.
- 10 paid holidays.
- Eligible for health benefits on the first day of the month after the start date.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits, including prescription and orthodontia coverage, with employee-paid premiums as low as $40 per pay period.
- Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.
- Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Life & AD&D Insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Aflac Supplemental Insurance.
- Paid Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty.
- Tuition Assistance Program.
- Pet Insurance.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
