Manufacturing Engineer Manager

Manufacturing Leader

This role offers the opportunity to shape how manufacturing operates by developing robust processes, improving equipment reliability, and establishing strong tooling systems that support both current operations and future growth. Working closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and New Product Introduction teams, this leader plays a critical role in delivering results and enabling successful product launches.

The position leads with a Lean mindset, driving meaningful improvements in flow, uptime, and efficiency through structured problem solving, standard work, and value stream thinking.

Equally important, this role is a leader of people, focused on mentoring and intentionally developing technical and leadership capability across the team to build a stronger, more capable organization over time.

A strong ability to focus on problems not people and to effectively solve those problems through systematic process evaluation and change is highly valued.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Mentor and drive Manufacturing Engineers to develop value streams for New Product Introductions that ensure manufacturing readiness.
• Define, develop, and implement robust value streams and processes that are capable, repeatable, and aligned with product requirements.
• Ensure the Bill of Manufacture accurately reflects the validated process, tooling, labor, and equipment requirements.
• Evaluate and select external partners, integrators, and vendors based on defined scope, technical capability, cost, and long-term support.
• Participate in process validation, equipment prove-out, and production readiness activities, including capital justification where required.
• Develop and deploy TWI method standardized work, and manufacturing cells aligned with operational needs and especially safety and quality standards.
• Support successful transfer of products and processes between manufacturing locations when necessary.
• Lead efforts to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance across manufacturing operations.
• Drive waste elimination using lean tools and methodologies including value stream mapping, 5S, SMED, Kanban, and Kaizen.
• Establish and sustain standard work, process controls, and visual management systems to improve consistency and performance.
• Lead structured problem solving using root cause analysis and corrective action methods to address chronic issues.
• Improve throughput, labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and process capability.
• Lead the maintenance function to ensure high levels of equipment uptime, reliability, and responsiveness to production needs.
• Establish and sustain a disciplined preventive and predictive maintenance system that reduces unplanned downtime and is managed within IQMS.
• Prioritize maintenance activities based on safety, customer impact, equipment criticality, and business requirements.
• Ensure maintenance work is planned, executed, and documented with clear accountability and follow-up.
• Drive continuous improvement in equipment performance and department execution through root cause analysis, failure tracking, and corrective actions.
• Partner cross functionally to ensure effective communication and alignment on equipment status and priorities.
• Lead the tooling team to support production through effective tooling readiness, repair, troubleshooting, and improvement.
• Align tooling priorities with production schedules, quality needs, and NPI requirements.
• Establish systems to ensure tooling condition, maintenance, recurring issues, and lifecycle planning are managed through IQMS.
• Drive improvements in systems and execution and tooling performance to reduce downtime, defects, and variability.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Quality to enhance tooling design, usability, and reliability.
• Mentor, lead, coach, and develop a team consisting of manufacturing engineers, maintenance personnel, and tooling resources.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for performance and execution.
• Identify skill gaps and create development plans to strengthen both individual contributors and overall team capability.
• Create a culture of ownership, urgency, and service to internal customers, particularly Production.
• Intentionally build technical capability across the team by developing skills in process engineering, equipment troubleshooting, maintenance practices, and lean methodologies.
• Promote knowledge sharing, cross-training, and continuous learning to improve organizational depth and flexibility.
• Develop future leaders by providing opportunities for increased responsibility, decision-making, and project ownership.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Engineering or related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A combination of plastics, silicone, rubber molding, and medical devices is strongly preferred.
• Commitment to mentorship and people development.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and technical resources.
• Demonstrated understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles, Value Stream implementation and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with equipment, automation, tooling, and process development.
• Ability to lead problem solving using data-driven methods and root cause analysis.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present effectively to all levels of the organization.
• Proficient with CAD systems, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office tools including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

To be considered, reach out to Thane Meiners. Resumes can be confidentially submitted to [email protected]. Phone number: 507-512-3068

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.