Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology

Food Management Search; Bay Shore (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Food Management Search, Inc. seeks a Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology to lead a CNC machining-focused operation and drive modernization across processes, automation, and AI-enabled tooling.

This role blends hands-on problem solving on the shop floor with strategic engineering leadership to scale capabilities. You will develop routings, guide CNC programming and tooling design, oversee digital work instructions, and partner with operations to improve cycle times, quality, and

Qualifications

• Significant manufacturing engineering experience in a CNC machining environment with hands-on problem solving.
• Experience developing manufacturing processes from engineering drawings through production.
• Strong knowledge of CNC programming, machining practices, tooling, workholding, and fixture design.

Responsibilities

• Lead methodizing of new work, including routings, operation sequences, setup, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions.
• Provide direct technical support for CNC programming, setup optimization, and machining troubleshooting.
• Lead tooling and fixture design, development, selection, and implementation.
• Collaborate with machinists, programmers, production leaders, and quality to resolve manufacturing problems.
• Improve cycle times, tool life, process capability, throughput, and consistency.
• Support new product introduction and transition of new work into stable production.
• Ensure processes meet drawings, tolerances, quality, and customer requirements.
• Develop and execute a practical roadmap for modernizing CNC operations.
• Digitize CNC operations including machine connectivity, data collection, and digital work instructions.
• Identify and implement automation and AI applications to improve efficiency and performance.
• Evaluate new equipment, software, tooling, and technologies based on value.
• Turn improvement initiatives into sustained results through training and adoption.
• Lead, coach, and develop the engineering team while guiding hands-on work.
• Set priorities balancing daily production with longer-term projects.
• Strengthen standards, documentation, change control, and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with operations, quality, maintenance, and leadership to address capacity, delivery, cost, and quality.
• Track results via cycle time, scrap, rework, throughput, downtime, and on-time delivery.

Skills

CNC machining

Process development

Programming

Troubleshooting

Tooling design

Fixture design

Shop-floor solving

Automation

AI integration

Leadership

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD/CAM systems

ERP/MRP platforms

Manufacturing Execution Systems

Machine monitoring tools

Job description

Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology

This role requires a manufacturing engineering leader who can solve immediate production challenges while advancing the company’s manufacturing capabilities. The successful candidate will bring recent, hands-on experience with CNC manufacturing, process development, programming and troubleshooting, tooling and fixture design, and shop-floor problem solving.

Alongside those technical responsibilities, this individual will lead engineering team development and manufacturing transformation through practical automation, digital tools, and AI integration. This is an active technical leadership position requiring regular involvement on the manufacturing floor.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-On Manufacturing Engineering

• Lead the methodizing of new work, including manufacturing routings, operation sequences, setup requirements, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions.

• Provide direct technical support for CNC programming, setup optimization, machining issues, and troubleshooting.

• Lead tooling and fixture design, development, selection, and implementation.

• Work alongside machinists, programmers, production leaders, and quality personnel to resolve manufacturing problems.

• Improve cycle times, tool life, process capability, throughput, and manufacturing consistency.

• Support new product introduction and the transition of new work into stable, repeatable production.

• Ensure manufacturing processes meet drawing, tolerance, quality, and customer requirements.

Manufacturing Transformation & Technology

• Develop and execute a practical roadmap for modernizing manufacturing engineering and CNC operations.

• Lead the digitization of CNC operations, including machine connectivity, production data collection, program management, and digital work instructions.

• Identify and implement automation and AI applications that improve engineering efficiency, troubleshooting, process monitoring, and manufacturing performance.

• Evaluate new equipment, software, tooling, and manufacturing technologies based on operational needs and measurable business value.

• Turn improvement initiatives into sustained results through implementation, employee training, and adoption.

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the engineering team while remaining directly involved in technical work.

• Establish clear priorities that balance daily production support with longer-term improvement projects.

• Strengthen engineering standards, documentation, change control, and knowledge sharing.

• Partner with operations, quality, maintenance, and company leadership to address capacity, delivery, cost, and quality challenges.

• Track results through measures such as cycle time, scrap, rework, throughput, downtime, and on-time delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Significant manufacturing engineering experience in a CNC machining environment, including recent, direct involvement in technical problem solving.

• Demonstrated experience methodizing new work and developing manufacturing processes from engineering drawings through production.

• Strong working knowledge of CNC programming, machining practices, cutting tools, workholding, and fixture design.

• Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues directly on the shop floor and guide practical corrective actions.

• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, and complex manufacturing requirements.

• Proven success leading manufacturing improvements with measurable operational results.

• Demonstrated experience implementing digital manufacturing tools, CNC connectivity, automation, or related modernization initiatives.

• Practical experience evaluating or implementing AI applications in manufacturing or engineering workflows.

• Experience leading and developing technical teams while maintaining hands-on engineering involvement.

• Strong communication, project execution, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or another precision manufacturing environment.

• Experience with CAD/CAM systems, ERP/MRP platforms, manufacturing execution systems, and machine monitoring tools.

• Experience supporting capital equipment selection, installation, and production ramp-up.

• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methods.

What Success Looks Like

• Immediate credibility with the engineering team and manufacturing floor through direct technical contribution.

• Faster resolution of CNC, tooling, fixture, and process problems.

• Reliable manufacturing methods and smoother introduction of new work.

• Measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and delivery.

• Successful adoption of digital manufacturing and AI tools that address real operational needs.

• A stronger engineering team capable of supporting current production and future growth.