Cell Assembly Production Engineering Manager Job SummaryThe Cell Assembly Production Engineering Manager leads a team of Production Engineers supporting Cell Assembly manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring process stability, equipment performance, and yield improvement from commissioning through mass production. The Engineering Manager is expected to be a hands-on leader, actively engaging on the production floor, troubleshooting equipment and process issues, and working side-by-side with engineers, supervisors, and operators to drive timely resolution of problems. This role requires a strong technical foundation and the ability to dive into mechanical, electrical, and process challenges to support rapid decision-making and execution. The position drives continuous improvement initiatives and partners cross-functionally to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality production aligned with business objectives.
Responsibilities- Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of production engineers; set clear goals and performance expectations, monitor progress, support and coach technical and leadership growth.
- Own and support Cell Assembly manufacturing processes (winding, assembly, formation/activation).
- Provide daily engineering support to resolve production issues and minimize downtime.
- Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Support production ramp-up to achieve targets for yield, throughput, and efficiency.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap and optimize cycle time.
- Utilize data-driven methodologies (DOE, SPC, Six Sigma tools) to improve process performance.
- Develop and maintain performance dashboards and monitoring systems.
- Collaborate with Technology, Equipment, Maintenance, and Quality to meet production goals.
- Support new product introductions (NPI) and process changes.
Qualifications and Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, Electrical, or related field).
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing or production engineering.
- 3+ years of engineering leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and production environments.
- Experience in process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, experience with KPI management in a leadership role.
- Ability to lead in a global/multi-cultural organization including foreign expats and vendors.
- Ability to support weekends, overtime, and shutdowns on an as-needed basis.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 15% annually
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills across departments and all levels.
Preferred Skills and Experience- Experience in battery manufacturing or Cell Assembly production processes.
- Advanced knowledge of process optimization tools (Minitab, DOE, SPC, Six Sigma methodologies).
- Familiarity with automation systems, MES, and data analytics platforms.
- Lean manufacturing certification or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt/Black Belt).
- Project Management experience and/or PMI PMP certification.
- Capital Projects planning from concept through selection to start of production (SOP).
- Jishuken/Continuous Improvement event leader experience.
- SOP/Standardized Work development and implementation, Yamazumi lean manufacturing work leveling experience, a track record of shop floor improvements through these methods.
