Engineering Manager

Actalent; Big Lake (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plan

Vision plan

Life insurance

AD&D

Disability insurance

EAP

Retirement contributions

FSAs

Dependent Care FSA

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the manufacturing engineering team in Big Lake, MN. The role balances project execution, personnel management, and system architecture while pushing operational excellence and cost reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities include leading kaizen events, defining standard work, and guiding automation and data analytics to drive improvements. 5+ years in manufacturing engineering with ISO experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related field; experience in lieu of degree will be considered.
• Minimum 5 years’ relevant experience including mentoring other Engineering staff and participating in customer interactions and decision making.
• Broad knowledge base of medical device machining processes, applications and technologies.
• Strong business knowledge. Experience leading significant business change and LEAN initiatives.
• Demonstrated effective leadership skills, including the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to lead people and get results through others.
• Proficient PC skills in a Windows environment.
• Basic understanding of CAD/CAM systems utilizing solid modeling.
• Experience working within an ISO environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering leadership to the business division and oversee budgeting and staffing.
• Lead cross-functional kaizen events and value stream mapping.
• Drive operational excellence and cost reduction initiatives.
• Develop and govern standard work and KPI tracking.
• Partner with NPI teams to support new product introductions.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Process improvement

Leadership

LEAN manufacturing

Value stream mapping

Root cause analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related field

Experience in lieu of degree considered

Tools

CAD/CAM systems

Solid modeling

Automation tools

Job description

Description

This position is responsible for providing engineering leadership and overseeing the management of all employees in the department. Will serve as a critical technical leader and change agent that is responsible directly for the engineering team while championing a culture of continuous improvement. This dual impact role balances daily engineering project execution, personnel management, and system architecture with the strategic deployment of operational excellence processes. The Engineering Manager will oversee manufacturing engineering, automation team, tool room, and lead the Operational excellence for the facility. Provide technical leadership to achieve the business division’s goals and objectives. Driving cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives, monitoring and confirming organizational adherence to policies, procedures, regulations and standard work and managing the department budget.

• Provide engineering leadership to the business division, including developing and implementing new engineering methodologies and processes for improved performance, quality and/or cost reduction.
• Work closely with other departments to ensure proper implementation of these initiatives.
• Implement & grow Operational excellence through all levels
• Design and govern standard work, visual KPI’s tracking framework
• Directly supervise staff and oversee the management of key employees in the Engineering Department by participating in and overseeing the hiring, work planning and direction, training and performance management processes.
• Lead cross functional kaizen events, value stream mapping, and root-cause analysis
• Develop foundational practices to support business growth and drive out costs through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation by utilizing automation, data analytics, and observational tools
• Lead technical discussions with quality and operations driving knowledge throughout the business.
• Represent our business in customer-facing interactions such as DFM or technology advancements.
• Partner with NPI engineering team to utilize SME in assisting NPI programs.
• Develop automation strategies to help drive operational efficiencies and repeatability.
• Support business expansion through capital expenditure (equipment) and space management.
• Assist with developing and managing the Engineering Department budget for the business division.
• Monitor and confirm organizational adherence to policies, procedures, regulations and standard work.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering, Process improvement, Project management, Process development, Medical device, Engineering management, Manufacturing process, Continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, Product development process, manufacturing environment, kpi, leadership development, planning scheduling, value stream mapping, root cause failure analysis, kaizen, precision machining, iso 9001, iso 13485, iso standards

Top Skills Details

Manufacturing engineering,Process improvement,Project management

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related engineering field (experience in lieu of a degree will be considered)
• Minimum 5 years’ relevant, progressive experience including mentoring other Engineering staff and participating in customer interactions and decision making.
• Broad knowledge base of medical device machining processes, applications and technologies.
• Strong business knowledge. Experience leading significant business change and LEAN initiatives.
• Demonstrated effective leadership skills, including the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to lead people and get results through others.
• Proficient PC skills in a Windows environment.
• Basic understanding of CAD/CAM systems utilizing solid modeling.
• Experience working within an ISO environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a precision machine shop environment.
• LEAN / Six Sigma training and demonstrated application.

MBA Quantitative Data:

• Directly supervise staff.
• 10-15 employees in the department.
• Manage department budget

Experience Level: Intermediate Level

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Big Lake, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $160000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

• Medical plans = company contributes a generous portion of the premium cost.
• Dental plan = employer‑supported.
• Voluntary vision plan = low‑cost, employee‑elected.
• Basic Life Insurance = 100% employer‑paid.
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) = 100% employer‑paid.
• Short‑term disability = 100% employer‑paid.
• Long‑term disability = 100% employer‑paid.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) = 100% employer‑paid.
• Retirement contributions (details referenced in the summary, plan documents hold the specifics).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Dependent Care FSA

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Big Lake,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.