Manufacturing Engineering Manager

About the Role We're looking for a Senior-leveled Manufacturing Engineer with a management background who can assist a manufacturing company who is actively scaling up their production. Background in Automotive or Aerospace is highly preferred. Responsibilities: • Design, implement, and maintain lean manufacturing systems. Lead Kaizen events, manage VSM (Value Stream Mapping), and establish visual management systems to improve flow and reduce waste. • Utilize statistical tools and methodologies-including Shainin Red X, Design of Experiments (DOE), and 8D-to identify root causes of chronic quality issues and scrap. • Provide technical leadership to production teams. Act as a mentor to junior engineers and a strategic partner to production supervisors to ensure Tier accountability and KPIs are met. • Lead capital equipment projects (CapEx) from justification through installation and validation. Ensure all projects are delivered on time and within budget. • Partner with R&D and Quality to ensure "Design for Manufacturability" (DFM) and seamless transitions from prototype to full-scale production. • Analyze manufacturing costs, labor variances, and scrap data. Identify opportunities for cost reduction that align with the site’s financial objectives. Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering. Also open to Electrical or Controls engineering. • 5+ years of leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, preferably within the Automotive (IATF 16949) or Aerospace (AS9100) industries. • 10+ years of total manufacturing or industrial engineering experience. • Demonstrated proficiency in Six Sigma or Shainin methodologies. Expert knowledge of DOE and statistical process control (SPC). • Deep hands-on experience with Lean tools (5S, Kanban, SMED, Poka-Yoke). • Proven ability to thrive in "fire-drill" environments, making data-driven decisions under tight deadlines and high-pressure situations. • Experience with standard costing, P&L impact analysis, and ROI calculations for capital investments preferred. • Six Sigma Black Belt or Shainin Journeyman/Master certification preferred. • Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP/Oracle) and Minitab or similar statistical software preferred.