DEPARTMENT: Operations Administration

STATUS: Regular/Full Time

BENEFITS: Eligible

COMPENSATION: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

Leads the Manufacturing Engineering function responsible for defining, maintaining, and improving how work is performed across fabrication and assembly operations.

Owns the development of manufacturing processes, labor standards, and system capability required to meet production targets. Works in close partnership with Production and Supply Chain leadership to ensure the operation can reliably execute to schedule, cost, and quality expectations.

This role is expected to operate as a system-level leader, contributing to cross-functional decision-making and building the foundation for scalable operational performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Process & Standard Ownership
• Own the definition and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes across fabrication and assembly.
• Establish and maintain standard work, routing accuracy, and labor standards.
• Ensure standards reflect actual shop performance and are consistently applied.
• Drive reduction in variation through process discipline and standardization.

Capacity & Capability Development
• Own and maintain the manufacturing standards, routing assumptions, process constraints, and throughput data used to support capacity planning.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Production leadership to evaluate schedule feasibility, labor requirements, and operational constraints.
• Identify bottlenecks and lead initiatives to improve throughput, efficiency, and repeatability.
• Ensure the operation has the technical capability, tooling and process discipline required to meet current and future demand.

Production Support & Problem Solving
• Support production in resolving process-related issues with urgency and discipline.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Ensure problems are solved at the system level, not repeatedly at the point of occurrence.
• Balance immediate production needs with long-term process stability.

Tooling, Fixtures & Technical Systems
• Lead development and maintenance of tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing support systems.
• Ensure equipment, programs, and methods enable safe, efficient, and repeatable operations.
• Maintain alignment between engineering design and manufacturing capability.

Cross-Functional Leadership
• Work in close coordination with Plant Manager and Supply Chain Manager to ensure overall plant performance targets are achieved.
• Actively participate in decisions impacting schedule, labor, material flow, and process capability.
• Provide clear input on what is required for the operation to perform at target levels.

Team Development & Leadership
• Build and develop a capable Manufacturing Engineering team.
• Establish clear expectations for ownership, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
• Develop team members with increasing responsibility and system-level thinking capability.

Continuous Improvement
• Identify and lead initiatives to improve throughput, reduce cost, and increase process reliability.
• Challenge existing methods and drive adoption of better practices.
• Align improvement efforts with overall operational priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or operations
• Prior leadership experience required
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing strongly preferred

Skills, Talents and/or Characteristics
• Strong understanding of fabrication and assembly processes
• Proven ability to define and implement standard work
• Systems thinker with the ability to connect engineering decisions to operational outcomes
• Hands-on problem solver with strong shop floor credibility
• Effective communicator across technical and operational teams
• Ability to balance short-term execution with long-term system improvement

IND123