Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineer

Symbotic • Wilmington, NC

77d • Hybrid

About The Position

Symbotic is seeking an accomplished Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineer to lead and scale our manufacturing engineering organization, driving operational excellence in the production of our automation and robotics solutions-including bots, conveyance systems, and adapter cells. This role will set the strategic direction for process development, equipment optimization, and manufacturing scalability, ensuring efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production. The Senior Manager will partner closely with project management, operations, and quality leadership to deliver innovative, manufacturable solutions that meet customer requirements while advancing continuous improvement initiatives across the business.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or related discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of manufacturing engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role with increasing responsibility.
• Proven track record in robotics, automation systems, machining, or advanced manufacturing, ideally in high-precision or low-to-medium volume environments.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, GD&T, and advanced inspection and verification methods.
• Demonstrated leadership in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement (Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred).
• Strong business and financial acumen, including manufacturing cost analysis and capital planning.
• Exceptional skills in team leadership, change management, and talent development.
• Excellent problem-solving, prioritization, and project management capabilities.
• Clear and persuasive communication skills, with the ability to influence across technical and executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the manufacturing engineering function, ensuring alignment with company objectives and future growth plans.
• Oversee resource planning, prioritization, and workload balance to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and to the highest quality standards.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering technical depth, collaboration, and leadership growth.
• Establish clear performance goals and accountability structures to drive measurable results.
• Present regular updates to executive leadership on manufacturing readiness, risk mitigation, and long-term improvement initiatives.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement across all operations.
• Define and implement advanced manufacturing strategies for robotics and automation systems that improve scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Partner with design engineering to ensure manufacturability (DFM) and lead seamless transitions of new products into production.
• Expertise in process development, driving manufacturing readiness reviews and DFM analysis scaling production from prototype to full-volume manufacturing for new product introductions.
• Identify, justify, and implement automation technologies, tooling, and fixtures to enhance throughput, quality, and reliability.
• Manage capital investment and tooling budgets to support production growth and operational excellence.
• Partner with operations leadership to resolve systemic production challenges, reduce downtime, and ensure on-time delivery.
• Lead root cause analysis for critical manufacturing issues and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to optimize processes, eliminate waste, and strengthen performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with program management, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure alignment on timelines, supplier readiness, and ISO 9001 compliance.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Machinery Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees