Engineering & Maintenance Manager, Continuous Improvement

Gates Corporation; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-Time

Bonus Eligible

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Vacation Time

Sick Days

Holidays

401(k) Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Discounts

Relocation Assistance

Job summary

Gates Corporation in Columbia, MO is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead Engineering, Maintenance and Continuous Improvement in a high-volume rubber and textile facility. You will drive safety, quality, equipment reliability and plant performance while reducing downtime and improving efficiency.

You will oversee engineering projects, maintenance programs, capital investments and process improvements, develop your team and collaborate with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and EHS to sustain a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience overseeing engineering, maintenance, or technical teams.
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing, preferably within the rubber, textile, chemical, automotive, or industrial products industries.
• Certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Reliability, or Project Management are a plus.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, maintenance systems, and continuous improvement practices.
• Experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, and process improvements.
• Working knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance programs, asset management, and equipment performance.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, solve complex problems, and implement organizational improvements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering, Maintenance, and Continuous Improvement teams to support safe, efficient, and reliable rubber and textile manufacturing operations.
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, equipment performance, and manufacturing processes to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
• Identify and resolve production challenges through troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementation of long-term corrective actions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other problem-solving methods to reduce waste, improve workflow, and increase production capacity.
• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability, minimize unplanned downtime, and extend equipment life.
• Utilize maintenance management systems (CMMS) and performance metrics to track equipment effectiveness, maintenance activities, and improvement opportunities.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies, automation, equipment upgrades, and process improvements to support operational goals.
• Plan and manage capital projects, including equipment installations, facility improvements, budgets, timelines, and contractor coordination.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS to improve manufacturing performance, maintain compliance, and support a safety-first culture.
• Establish and maintain engineering and maintenance standards, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistent and sustainable operations.
• Monitor key performance indicators, including equipment uptime, scrap, labor efficiency, production output, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), to identify and drive improvements.
• Lead, coach, and develop engineering and maintenance employees while promoting teamwork, accountability, technical growth, and continuous improvement.
• Manage departmental priorities, resources, and budgets to align with plant objectives and long-term business goals.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

CMMS

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

Job description

Gates Corporation in Columbia, MO is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead Engineering, Maintenance and Continuous Improvement in a high-volume rubber and textile facility. You will drive safety, quality, equipment reliability and plant performance while reducing downtime and improving efficiency.

You will oversee engineering projects, maintenance programs, capital investments and process improvements, develop your team and collaborate with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and EHS to sustain a