Manufacturing Engineering Manager

GKN Driveline Malaysia Sdn Bhd; Seberang Perai; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Driveline Malaysia Sdn Bhd is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer/Leader to drive the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and production systems at our Penang site.

You will lead New Product Introduction (NPI) programs from C-stage through SOP, coordinate cross-functional teams, and deliver milestones on time and within budget while championing Lean, HSE, and cost-reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, or Program Management.
• Automotive industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams and customer-facing projects.
• Experience managing product launches from development through SOP and post-SOP support.
• Experience in manufacturing process design, automation, and capital projects is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and production systems.
• Drive process optimization initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing standards, engineering specifications, and process documentation.
• Evaluate manufacturing feasibility and provide technical solutions for complex engineering challenges.
• Conduct engineering assessments and inspections to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Support plant expansion, automation, and capital investment projects to support growth.
• Lead NPI and Program Launch activities from C-stage through SOP and post-launch phases.
• Ensure milestones, launches, and deliverables are achieved on time and within budget.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure launch readiness and issue resolution.
• Establish milestones, KPIs, and resource plans; provide regular updates to stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

NPI/Launch

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional teams

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

APQP

PPAP

FMEA

Control Plan

Job description

Proven people leader with managerial experience and a strong track record in team development, coupled with customer-facing experience and the ability to effectively manage stakeholder relationships. Brings solid technical expertise in Induction Hardening, Rolling Processes, CNC Programming, QAD, and IQRM, with a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Engineering

Lead the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and production systems.

Drive process optimization initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.

Develop and maintain manufacturing standards, engineering specifications, and process documentation.

Evaluate manufacturing feasibility and provide technical solutions for complex engineering challenges.

Conduct engineering assessments and inspections to ensure compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

Support plant expansion, industrial footprint, automation, and capital investment projects to support business growth.

Program Launch & New Product Introduction (NPI)

Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and Program Launch activities from C-stage through Start of Production (SOP) and post-launch phases.

Ensure all customer milestones, launch events, and deliverables are achieved on time and within budget.

Drive closure of project open issues and coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure launch readiness.

Manage customer engineering changes and implement VA/VE and CIMS initiatives aligned with regional and global cost-saving objectives.

Ensure customer sample builds and internal validation samples are delivered according to project schedules.

Establish project milestones, KPIs, and resource plans, while monitoring overall project performance.

Provide regular project updates to customers, regional leadership, and project management teams.

Participate in customer project reviews and ensure timely submission of all required project documentation.

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers, Program Engineers, and Technicians.

Set clear performance objectives, monitor progress, and support employee development through coaching and training.

Allocate resources and prioritize activities to ensure successful project execution and operational performance.

Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Management

Partner closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Engineering, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives.

Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure effective communication and project execution.

Act as a trusted technical advisor and problem-solving resource for manufacturing and program-related challenges.

Budget, Safety & Continuous Improvement

Manage departmental budgets, capital expenditure projects, and resource planning activities.

Drive Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives to improve operational performance and reduce costs.

Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Environment (HSE), Quality, and regulatory requirements.

Champion a safe working environment and promote a culture of operational excellence.

Manufacturing Engineering & Process Development

Program Launch / New Product Introduction (NPI)

Automotive Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plan)

Project & Stakeholder Management

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

Plant & Equipment Installation

Leadership & Team Development

Strategic Planning & Execution

Budget Management & Financial Analysis

Customer Relationship Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.

Experience

Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Program Launch, New Product Introduction (NPI), or Project Management within a manufacturing environment.

Automotive industry experience is strongly preferred.

Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and managing customer-facing projects.

Experience managing product launches from development through SOP and post-SOP support.

Experience in manufacturing process design, industrialization, automation, and capital projects is highly desirable.