Job Title: Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Department:Engineering
Position Type: Full Time/1st Shift/Exempt
Reports To: Director of Operations
Working Hours: Monday - Thursday (6:00a-4:30p)
Job SummaryThe Manufacturing Engineering Manager is the technical owner of our CNC manufacturing processes. This role combines deep expertise in CNC programming, machining, tooling, workholding, process planning, automation, and structured problem solving with strong project leadership. The position owns the ongoing control and relentless improvement of current production processes and serves as project manager for significant new-part launches, from manufacturability review through stable production. The successful candidate will challenge how work is done, replace tribal knowledge with engineered standards.
Manufacturing Process Ownership- Own the technical manufacturing process for production throughout the product lifecycle, from process definition through sustained production.
- Develop and maintain robust manufacturing methods for parts produced from castings, forgings, bar stock, billet, and other raw material forms.
- Maintain disciplined control of CNC programs, setup documentation, tool lists, fixtures, critical parameters, process drawings, and other manufacturing standards.
- Reduce dependence on tribal knowledge by converting proven practices into controlled, repeatable processes and clear work instructions.
- Establish an engineering change process for significant modifications to released manufacturing methods and verify changes before full production release.
- Partner with Quality to identify critical process characteristics and establish appropriate controls, validation methods, and reaction plans.
- Use capability studies, SPC, inspection results, tooling data, machine data, and production performance to determine whether processes are truly stable and capable.
- Engineer logic, decisions, and variability out of the process, so repeatable results do not depend on operator heroics.
- Ensure manufacturing engineering practices support company quality requirements and applicable ISO 9001/AS9100 systems.
CNC Programming, Tooling & Workholding- Serve as a highest-level technical resource for CNC machining, programming, tooling, fixturing, feeds and speeds & processes.
- Develop, review, troubleshoot, and optimize CNC programs for complex, tight-tolerance production applications, including multi-axis processes where applicable.
- Lead selection and standardization of cutting tools, holders, workholding, probing strategies, and machining parameters to improve repeatability, tool life, cycle time, and cost per part.
- Troubleshoot difficult machining issues including chatter, distortion, chip control, tool wear, surface finish, thermal effects, tolerance stack-up, machine capability, and process instability.
Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization- Act as the technical beacon for manufacturing improvement and maintain an active pipeline of high-impact process improvement opportunities.
- Continuously improve cycle time, setup time, machine utilization, throughput, tool life, tooling cost, scrap, rework, etc.
- Use data, observation, experimentation, structured root-cause analysis, and Lean principles to identify constraints and eliminate waste
- Identify and lead opportunities to increase unattended production, reduce variability, improve ergonomics, and increase productive spindle time through automation and technology.
- Evaluate and implement appropriate applications for robotic or cobot machine tending, automated material handling, in-process probing and gauging, tool monitoring, broken-tool detection, vision, automated inspection, palletization, digital work instructions, machine monitoring, and automated data collection.
- Design stable processes for automation rather than attempting to automate unstable or poorly defined work.
New Product Introduction & Launch Management- Serve as technical project manager for significant new part launches and own initial technical review through stable production.
- Develop launch plans with clear milestones, owners, timing, risks, and countermeasures; drive cross-functional actions to closure.
- Partner with Sales, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, customers, and suppliers to identify technical and operational risks early and resolve them before they become production problems.
- Review drawings and models for manufacturability, including datum structure, GD&T, tolerances, surface finish, material condition, inspection accessibility, and features that materially affect risk or cost.
- Support capital equipment evaluations and develop fact-based technical and financial justification for new machines, automation, tooling systems, software, and related investments.
Technical Leadership & Knowledge Development- Mentor and develop CNC programmers, manufacturing engineers, setup personnel, machinists, operators, and production leaders in sound manufacturing practices.
- Teach the reasoning behind good technical decisions and build organizational capability rather than becoming the only person who can solve difficult problems. Teach 'the why'!
- Promote disciplined experimentation, fact-based decision making, standard work, and a culture where proven improvements become the new standard.
Key Measures of Success- Reduction in machining cycle time, setup time, direct labo, tooling cost per part, scrap, and rework.
- Improvement in throughput, spindle utilization, process capability, unattended machining hours, ergonomics, and production reliability.
- New-part launches achieving planned timing, quality, capacity, cycle time, and cost targets.
- Reduction in recurring process problems, undocumented methods, and dependence on tribal knowledge.
- Improvement in manufacturing margin
Education and Experience Requirements- Exceptional hands-on manufacturing experience is preferred over formal education, however a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline will be considered.
- 8+ years of progressive CNC machining, programming, manufacturing engineering, or process-development experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing and optimizing production machining processes from print/model through sustained production.
- Experience leading complex new-product launches, capital projects, or cross-functional manufacturing projects.
- Experience in a high-mix, mid- to high-volume contract machining environment strongly preferred.
- Experience with 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining, CNC turning, mill-turn, Swiss, horizontal machining, robotics, or other advanced machining platforms preferred.
Qualification Requirements- Experience with 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining, CNC turning, mill-turn, Swiss, horizontal machining, robotics, or other advanced machining platforms preferred.
- Successfully pass drug screening.
- Successfully pass background screening.
- Speak, read, and write English.
- Advanced knowledge of CNC programming, machining strategy, tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, tool life, and metal-cutting fundamentals.
- Strong understanding of GD&T, dimensional inspection, process capability, and tolerance management.
- Proficiency with CAD/CAM systems and machining simulation; ability to quickly learn company-standard software and technology. MasterCAM or ESPRIT experience is preferred.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills; excellent leadership and communication.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite applications.
- Strong attention to detail and time management.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with integrity and confidentiality.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of company Quality Policy and fundamentals of ISO 9001/AS9100
- Solid communication skills at all levels of the organization (written and oral).
- Ability to use the latest technology/software provided by company.
- Must have excellent sense of priorities and a self-motivator.
- Must adhere to all OSHA safety rules and regulations.
- Physical Demands:
- Stand, walk, push, pull, climb stairs and ladders, reach overhead and bend to the floor.
- Ability to safely lift 50 pounds.
- Senses: Visual (basic color perception, peripheral and depth perception, close vision of 20 inches or less, distance vision of more than 20 feet). Required for reading documentation.
- Hearing: Be able to understand verbal communication in an office and manufacturing environment (e.g., phones, team meetings, in-person interaction, background noise from production floor).
- Visual: Visual acuity required for reviewing detailed financial data, entering numbers accurately, and identifying discrepancies.
- Working Environment/Conditions:
- Primary work is performed in a professional office setting within a manufacturing facility.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Physical hazards being exposed to moving equipment and machine parts while visiting manufacturing floor.
- Breathing fumes, dust, and mist while visiting manufacturing floor.
- Skin exposure to oils and cutting fluid while visiting manufacturing floor.
- Exposure to low/moderate noise level typical of an office (e.g., printers, phones, conversations).
- May be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.
- May require working over-time and/or Friday, Saturday hours depending on customer needs.
