Position Summary:The
Manager, Production Engineering for Leica Biosystems is responsible for leading the Production Engineering team to ensure reliable operation of production lines and deliver measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, productivity, cost, and compliance. This role serves as a technical leader for production engineering team to drive continuous improvement initiatives while strengthening operational discipline, and accountability for project execution across the factory.
This position is part of the Manufacturing Operations team located in Richmond, IL and will be on-site. At Leica Biosystems, our vision is to advance cancer diagnostics and improve lives.
You will be part of the Operations Leadership Team and report to the Plant Manager responsible for leading Richmond manufacturing operations. If you thrive in a complex, high-impact manufacturing environment and want to help build a world-class manufacturing organization, read on.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to: - Lead the Richmond Production Engineering team by setting priorities, clarifying ownership, and strengthening quality and productivity across the site.
- Personally lead high-impact production engineering projects from scoping through execution, using clear project plans, milestones, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and measurable outcomes.
- Manage the production engineering project portfolio to improve key operational KPIs, including productivity, cost of quality, capacity, scrap, yield, and equipment reliability.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D at the site to drive meaningful improvements across all value streams within the factory.
- Use DBS tools, disciplined project management practices, and problem-solving process to identify root causes, remove execution barriers, and sustain improvements in quality, efficiency, productivity, cost, and compliance.
The essential requirements of the job include:- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
- Progressive experience in production engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or operations leadership within a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional manufacturing projects with strong project plans, milestones, stakeholder alignment, and measurable business outcomes.
- Experience managing, coaching, or developing engineers or technical associates while maintaining personal ownership for direct project execution.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and continuous improvement capability; experience with DBS, Lean, Six Sigma, quality systems, or change control preferred.
It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:- Medical device manufacturing in an FDA-regulated environment, including familiarity with Quality Management System Regulation, ISO 13485, production controls, documentation, and audit readiness.
- Experience with process validation, equipment qualification, test method validation, change control, CAPA, nonconformance management, or other quality system processes tied to manufacturing improvements.
- Experience managing project portfolios with defined KPIs, governance routines, and benefits tracking across productivity, cost of quality, yield, scrap, capacity, equipment reliability, delivery performance, automation, and line capacity modeling.
Leica Biosystems, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it's a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.
The annual salary range for this role is $140,000-$155,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k), to eligible employees.
Note: No amount of pay is considered wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or other form of compensation and benefits allocated to a particular employee remain in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.
