Engineering Manager

Neotech; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision

Life/AD&D insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

401(k) with company match

Sick leave, vacation, holidays

Employee assistance program

Job summary

NEOTech in Carlsbad, CA seeks an Engineering Manager to lead a high‑performing team focused on LTCC and advanced ceramic manufacturing. You will drive process control, data‑driven improvements, and standardization across Manufacturing and Process Engineering while collaborating with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain.

The role emphasizes talent development, robust process controls, and a culture of continuous improvement to enable scalable, compliant production and new product introductions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering required; Master's Degree preferred.
• 3-5+ years of engineering leadership experience within manufacturing environments.
• 3-5+ years leading engineering organizations supporting advanced manufacturing processes.
• Experience in LTCC, ceramics, aerospace, defense electronics, semiconductor, microelectronics, or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a world-class engineering organization across Manufacturing, Process, Test, and NPI.
• Establish roles, career paths, succession planning, and a culture of technical excellence.
• Drive SPC, process capability, control plans, KPIs and risk management.
• Lead root cause analysis (8D, DMAIC, Fishbone, DOE) and implement robust process controls.
• Oversee NPI processes, technology transfer, and manufacturability improvements.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and site leadership to align strategies and capital plans.
• Ensure validation, qualification, and compliance with ISO/AS9100 and customer requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Process control

Statistical methods

DOE

FMEA

PFMEA

MSA

ERP/MES

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Master's Degree preferred

Tools

ERP/MES platforms

Job description

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and developing the engineering team with primary emphasis on LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) and advanced ceramic manufacturing processes. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Process Technicians, Test Engineering, and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.The Engineering Manager will champion a culture of process control, data-driven decision making, standardization, and continuous improvement while building a high-performing engineering organization capable of supporting growth, scalability, and operational excellence. This leader will play a critical role in transforming manufacturing operations from a historically reactive environment into a disciplined, metrics-driven organization founded on robust process controls, statistical methods, product quality, and manufacturing repeatability.Success in this role requires a hands-on leader who can develop engineering talent, establish accountability, implement strong process controls, engineering best practices, and effectively navigate organizational change while partnering closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management and site leadership.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEngineering Leadership & Organization DevelopmentBuild, mentor, and develop a world-class engineering organization, including Manufacturing Engineers, Process Engineers, Process Technicians, and Test Engineers.Establish clear roles, responsibilities, career development paths, and succession planning for engineering personnel.Drive a culture of technical excellence, ownership, accountability, and continuous learning.Recruit, retain, and develop engineering talent to support business growth and future manufacturing capabilities.Lead organizational change management efforts to transition from informal, experience-based practices toward standardized engineering systems and process discipline.Process Control & Manufacturing ExcellenceEstablish and maintain robust process control systems throughout all manufacturing operations.Develop and implement statistical process control (SPC), process capability monitoring, control plans, and key process indicators (KPIs).Lead process characterization, process window development, validation activities, and continuous process optimization efforts.Drive root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies utilizing structured problem-solving tools including 8D, DMAIC, Fishbone Analysis, and Design of Experiments (DOE).Ensure manufacturing processes are stable, repeatable, measurable, and capable of consistently meeting customer requirements.Lead development of process documentation, manufacturing standards, and engineering procedures.Drive continuous improvement in yield, throughput, cycle time, scrap reduction, and overall equipment effectiveness.Support development and qualification of new ceramic materials, manufacturing technologies, and production capabilities.Ensure engineering controls and manufacturing methods support long-term scalability and production growth.New Product Introduction (NPI)Lead engineering support for new product introduction and technology transfer activities.Develop and implement robust NPI processes that ensure manufacturability, repeatability, quality, and cost competitiveness.Establish process validation requirements, manufacturing readiness reviews, and production launch criteria.Operational & Strategic LeadershipDevelop process and manufacturing engineering strategies aligned with business objectives and growth plans.Partner with Operations and Quality leadership to improve manufacturing performance and customer satisfaction.Identify and prioritize capital equipment investments, facility improvements, and technology roadmaps.Review and approve engineering labor estimates, NRE quotes, process assumptions, and manufacturing strategies.Evaluate and justify capital expenditures through ROI, capacity planning, and operational improvement opportunities.Support executive leadership in strategic planning, operational reviews, and business performance initiatives.Compliance & Risk ManagementLead Process FMEA, Design FMEA, Risk Assessments, and Control Plan development activities.Ensure validation and qualification of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and test systems.Support and maintain compliance with ISO, AS9100, customer, regulatory, and industry requirements.Support environmental, health, safety, and sustainability initiatives across all facilities.Technical ExpertiseStrong understanding of process development, process validation, process capability analysis, and statistical process control.Experience implementing process controls within manufacturing environments undergoing operational transformation.Working knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE), FMEA, Control Plans, PFMEA, SPC, MSA, and Process Capability methodologies.Strong knowledge of manufacturing systems, ERP/MES platforms, and engineering change management processes.Leadership CompetenciesProven ability to lead organizational transformation and establish engineering discipline within growing manufacturing organizations.Demonstrated success developing engineering teams and building technical leadership capabilities.Ability to influence and drive change across all organizational levels.Strong business acumen with the ability to connect engineering decisions to operational and financial performance.Excellent communication, coaching, and cross-functional leadership skills.Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational support.QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Engineering required; Master's Degree preferred.3-5+ years of engineering leadership experience within manufacturing environments.3-5+ years leading engineering organizations supporting advanced manufacturing processes.Experience in LTCC, ceramics, aerospace, defense electronics, semiconductor, microelectronics, or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement certification preferred.Benefits Offered: Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental and vision coverage; company-paid basic life/AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance; voluntary supplemental insurances, flexible spending accounts and employee assistance program (EAP). Sick Leave, Vacation Time, and company-paid Holidays are also provided as paid time off. NEOTech also provides a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan option with a company match.NEOTech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.NEOTech has a long-standing commitment to maintaining a safe, quality-oriented and productive work environment. We also want all employees to perform their duties safely and efficiently, in a manner that protects their interests and those of their co-workers. We recognize that alcohol and drug abuse pose a threat to the health and safety of NEOTech employees and to the security of the Company’s equipment and facilities. For these reasons, NEOTech is committed to the elimination of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the workplace. Candidates being considered for hire must pass a pre-employment background check and drug test which include screening for illegal drugs and marijuana