Engineering Manager

Gateway Recruiting; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Recruiting seeks an Engineering Manager to lead a manufacturing engineering team, drive process improvements, and own the ECR process end-to-end. The role coordinates tooling, equipment reliability, and maintenance while guiding budget and make-or-buy decisions.

The ideal candidate has a mechanical/industrial/ manufacturing engineering background, strong leadership, and experience in CNC programming and Lean practices, with limited travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher preferred.
• 3+ years leadership/management experience and 5+ years process/industrial engineering experience, ideally including machining, CNC programming, and assembly.
• Demonstrated experience leading an Engineering Change Request (ECR) or change-management process.
• Technical skills include: blueprint reading, GD&T, value stream mapping / Lean manufacturing; CNC programming, tooling optimization, fixture design.
• Project management and preventive maintenance; technical writing and analytical problem-solving.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; ERP experience preferred (D365 FO a plus).
• Strong leadership, employee development, and communication skills; travel minimal.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Engineering department—CNC programmers and engineering staff—ensuring goals, safety, compliance, and efficiency.
• Own and lead the Engineering Change Request (ECR) process end-to-end with cross-functional review and timely implementation.
• Oversee installation/operation of manufacturing equipment; coordinate preventive/corrective maintenance; manage external vendors.
• Plan/design/test/sourcing of tools, fixtures, gauges, and machinery with cost-justification; document processes.
• Manage department budgets; estimate resources, production times, and costs for make-or-buy decisions.
• Foster continuous improvement; develop evaluation criteria; report weekly metrics.
• Identify and escalate technical and risk-related issues; stay current on industry trends.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and safety regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership/Management

Six Sigma Green Belt

Process/Industrial Engineering

Project Management

Problem Solving / Analytical

Communication

CNC Programming

Blueprint Reading / GD&T

Lean / Value Stream Mapping

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

D365FO ERP

Microsoft Office

Job description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Engineering Manager is responsible for designing and implementing manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment within Operations, and for driving continual improvement in process, cost, production, and overall product quality through the direct management and leadership of the Engineering department. The Engineering Manager owns the Engineering Change Request (ECR) process end-to-end and partners closely with the CNC programming team to continuously optimize programming workflows and define efficient, standardized processes. The role also coordinates the facility's maintenance and equipment reliability needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead and manage the Engineering department — including CNC programmers and engineering support staff — ensuring department goals, safety, compliance, and efficiency are met; maintain broad organizational awareness and collaborate across all levels of management.
• Own and lead the Engineering Change Request (ECR) process end-to-end, ensuring proper cross-functional review, documentation, approval, and timely implementation of changes.
• Oversee installation and operation of manufacturing equipment and coordinate preventive/corrective maintenance, managing external vendors and contractors for facility, equipment, and specialized needs.
• Oversee the planning, design, testing, and sourcing of tools, fixtures, gauges, and machinery — including cost-justification — and ensure manufacturing/assembly processes and work instructions are documented and followed.
• Manage fiscal responsibility for the department, including capital and maintenance budgets, and estimate resource requirements, production times, and costs to inform make-or-buy decisions.
• Drive a continuous improvement culture by developing evaluation and process criteria, recommending policy improvements, and contributing to weekly reporting metrics.
• Proactively identify and escalation technical and risk-related issues, staying current on industry trends and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable state and federal employment and safety regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience (Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing preferred); Six Sigma Green Belt or above preferred.
• 3+ years of leadership/management experience and 5+ years of process/industrial engineering experience, ideally including machining, CNC programming, and assembly.
• Demonstrated experience leading an Engineering Change Request (ECR) or change-management process.
• Technical skills include:
  • Blueprint reading, GD&T, and value stream mapping / Lean manufacturing
  • CNC manufacturing/programming, tooling optimization, and fixture design
  • Project management and preventive maintenance
  • Technical writing and analytical problem-solving
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; ERP experience preferred (D365 FO a plus).
• Strong leadership, employee development, and communication skills; self-motivated with minimal travel required.