Position SummaryThe Product Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the product engineering function within the Albuquerque manufacturing facility. This role oversees the technical ownership of piezoceramic products throughout their lifecycle, including product design support, manufacturing process optimization, cost reduction initiatives, and product performance improvement.
The Product Engineering Manager works cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, R&D, sales, and materials teams to ensure products meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and operational performance goals. This role is also responsible for leading engineering staff and supporting new product introduction (NPI) and product transfer activities.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and manage the product engineering team responsible for sustaining engineering and product performance.
- Provide technical direction, coaching, and professional development for engineers and technical staff.
- Establish engineering priorities aligned with plant objectives and customer commitments.
- Develop and implement the best product engineering practices, documentation standards, and technical procedures.
- Maintain technical ownership of piezoceramic product lines throughout their lifecycle.
- Ensure product designs are optimized for manufacturability, cost, performance, and reliability.
- Manage engineering changes, product revisions, and documentation updates.
- Support product obsolescence management and material substitutions when required.
- Lead engineering activities for new product launches and customer qualification projects.
- Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing engineering, and quality teams to transition new products into production.
- Define manufacturing specifications, process requirements, and acceptance criteria, including but not limited to the overall batch qualification process and loading and unloading ceramics into furnaces and kilns (bisque and fire).
- Support pilot builds, validation runs, and customer qualification testing.
- Provide technical support to production teams for product-related issues.
- Investigate yield losses, product failures, and performance deviations.
- Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for product-related defects.
- Work closely with manufacturing engineering to optimize processes supporting product performance.
- Serve as the primary technical contact for product-related customer inquiries and technical support.
- Support sales and customer engineering teams with product specifications and application guidance.
- Participate in customer technical reviews and product performance discussions when required.
- Identify opportunities to improve product yields, reduce scrap, and optimize material usage.
- Lead value engineering and cost reduction initiatives.
- Drive product standardization and design improvements to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
- Maintain product specifications, engineering drawings, and technical documentation.
- Ensure compliance with quality systems, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Support internal and external audits related to product engineering.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesTechnical skills
- Strong knowledge of:
- Piezoelectric materials and ceramic processing (preferred)
- Product design for manufacturability (DFM)
- Failure analysis and root cause investigation
- Statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis
- Engineering change management
- Product qualification and validation processes
- Experience with:
- CAD tools and engineering documentation systems
- Manufacturing data analysis tools
- Quality systems such as ISO-based environments
Leadership Competencies
- Strong technical leadership and mentoring skills
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Ability to balance customer requirements with manufacturing capabilities
- Strong written and verbal communication
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's or master's degree in one of the following fields: Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics or related technical discipline.
- 8-12 years of engineering experience in manufacturing or advanced materials.
- 3-5 years of engineering leadership or management experience.
- Experience supporting product development or sustaining engineering in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience with ceramics, electronic materials, sensors, actuators, or precision components is preferred.
Join UsAt CTS, one of the ways we recognize the value of our employees is through our comprehensive benefits program. Highlights of our benefits program for full-time employees include:
- Health Benefits
- 401K
- Paid Time Off
- Holiday Pay
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Parental Leave
- Pet Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
Ready to shape the future? Apply now to join a world leader in sensing and connectivity.
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