Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager

POWERTECH; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace technology firm in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the setup of manufacturing facilities and processes. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing and strong expertise in capital investments and greenfield project management. Responsibilities include overseeing new product introduction and mentoring a high-performance engineering team while ensuring manufacturing excellence. This role requires a hands-on leader with a background in advanced machining and fabrication.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aerospace or propulsion manufacturing.
• Proven experience in greenfield setup, capital investment, and industrialization.
• Strong expertise in advanced machining and fabrication of rotating and structural engine components.

Responsibilities

• Lead the greenfield setup of advanced manufacturing facilities for propulsion components.
• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) execution from prototype through production readiness.
• Build, lead, and mentor the manufacturing engineering team.

Skills

Greenfield setup

Aerospace manufacturing

Machining

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering

Job description

About POWERTECH

POWERTECH is a center of excellence for propulsion technologies, specializing in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of combustion engines, expendable turbojet engines, and turbofan engines for a wide range of aerospace, defence, and autonomous applications, including fixed- and rotary-wing UAVs and other advanced platforms.

Purpose

The Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the greenfield setup of manufacturing facilities, equipment investments, and machining and fabrication process development to support Powertech’s propulsion programs, including turbofan, microjet, and piston engines. This role leads New Product Introduction (NPI), industrialization, and serial production readiness for internally manufactured parts, working in close collaboration with design engineering, internal and external partners, suppliers, and equipment vendors. The position plays a key role in design-to-manufacture and concurrent engineering activities, ensuring robust, cost-effective, and scalable manufacturing solutions. This role is ideal for a hands‑on manufacturing leader with experience building facilities, processes, and teams from the ground up.

Manufacturing Strategy, Greenfield Facility & Equipment Investment

• Lead the greenfield setup of advanced manufacturing facilities for propulsion components.
• Define facility layout, utilities, workflow, and capacity models aligned with production ramp‑up plans.
• Develop capital investment plans for machines, tooling, and automation.

Manufacturing Process Development & Industrialization

• Lead the development, validation, and continuous improvement of core machining and fabrication processes for rotating and structural engine components.
• Define manufacturing standards, routings, work instructions, and control plans.
• Lead process validation, FAI, PPAP/industrial qualification, and capability studies.

NPI & Program Support

• Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) execution from prototype through production readiness.
• Support industrialization planning, make/buy decisions, and production ramp‑up strategies.
• Coordinate closely with program management to align manufacturing readiness with development milestones.

Design‑to‑Manufacture & Concurrent Engineering

• Actively support concurrent engineering activities, collaborating with design teams to influence part design for manufacturability, quality, and cost.
• Provide manufacturing input during design reviews, trade studies, and configuration decisions.

Supplier & Partner Development

• Develop and technically support external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Lead supplier capability assessments, technical alignment, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead technology transfer activities from partners to in‑house manufacturing.

Cost, Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead manufacturing cost estimation, tracking, and improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and cost competitiveness.
• Drive implementation of best‑in‑class aerospace manufacturing practices, digital tools, and continuous improvement systems.

Leadership & Governance

• Build, lead, and mentor the manufacturing engineering team.
• Develop training, certification, and skill development programs.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards, quality systems, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace or propulsion manufacturing.
• Proven experience in greenfield setup, capital investment, and industrialization.
• Strong expertise in advanced machining and fabrication of rotating and structural engine components.
• Demonstrated leadership in NPI and concurrent engineering environments.
• Experience leading teams and working with internal stakeholders, external manufacturing partners, and capital investment projects.