Engineering Manager

SSW Advanced Technologies; Newport (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SSW Advanced Technologies in Newport, Tennessee is seeking a hands-on Engineering Manager to lead a manufacturing engineering team during a strategic transformation. You will stay closely involved with operations, drive safety, quality, productivity, and cost improvements, and mentor engineers toward expanded leadership.

The ideal candidate has a strong technical foundation, experience leading engineering teams in manufacturing, and a proven ability to deliver projects from concept through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
• Progressive engineering experience within a manufacturing environment
• Experience leading engineers, technicians, or technical project teams
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and continuous improvement methodologies
• New product launch and project management experience
• Ability to work effectively in both office and production environments

Responsibilities

• Develop and mentor engineering talent
• Guide engineering priorities that support business and operational goals
• Collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Leadership teams
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost
• Identify and implement process improvements across manufacturing operations
• Support equipment upgrades, modifications, and troubleshooting activities
• Improve operational efficiency through data‑driven problem‑solving
• Lead projects from concept through implementation
• Evaluate new equipment, tooling, and process technologies
• Coordinate engineering resources, timelines, and project priorities
• Support new product launches and manufacturing readiness activities
• Partner with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
• Develop and improve SOPs, standard work, and engineering documentation
• Identify opportunities to reduce downtime and manufacturing costs

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing experience

Continuous improvement

Project management

Data-driven problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CAD - SolidWorks

MRP systems

BOM management

Job description

Lead Engineering During an Exciting Transformation

SSW Advanced Technologies (AAP Division) is seeking a hands‑on Engineering Manager to lead engineering activities at our Newport, Tennessee manufacturing facility.

While many in the region know us as American Appliance Products (AAP), we are proud to be part of SSW Advanced Technologies, a global manufacturer serving appliance, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, retail display, and consumer product markets.

AAP became part of the SSW family in 2003, bringing decades of manufacturing expertise and expanding our cooking product capabilities. Today, our Newport facility is continuing its evolution, supporting both legacy appliance manufacturing and a growing portfolio of engineered HVAC products.

We are looking for a technically strong engineering leader who wants to make a visible impact on operations, manufacturing excellence, and future growth.

About the Opportunity

This role is ideal for:

• An Engineering Manager leading a small manufacturing engineering team ready for expanded leadership responsibility
• A Senior Engineer with demonstrated leadership experience seeking the next step into engineering management

You’ll lead engineering initiatives while remaining actively engaged with manufacturing operations, process improvements, equipment performance, and team development.

What You’ll Do

Lead the Engineering Team

• Develop and mentor engineering talent
• Guide engineering priorities that support business and operational goals
• Collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Leadership teams
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement

Support Manufacturing Operations

• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost
• Identify and implement process improvements across manufacturing operations
• Support equipment upgrades, modifications, and troubleshooting activities
• Improve operational efficiency through data‑driven problem‑solving
• Lead projects from concept through implementation
• Evaluate new equipment, tooling, and process technologies
• Coordinate engineering resources, timelines, and project priorities
• Support new product launches and manufacturing readiness activities

Improve Reliability and Performance

• Partner with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
• Develop and improve SOPs, standard work, and engineering documentation
• Identify opportunities to reduce downtime and manufacturing costs

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline
• Progressive engineering experience within a manufacturing environment
• Experience leading engineers, technicians, or technical project teams
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and continuous improvement methodologies
• New product launch and project management experience
• Ability to work effectively in both office and production environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Fabrication and welding experience, particularly MIG or resistance welding
• Experience in metal manufacturing, machining, assembly, or wire‑forming operations
• Product engineering and process engineering experience
• Maintenance and reliability experience
• CAD experience including SolidWorks
• MRP systems, BOM management, routings, and product costing knowledge

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will likely have followed a career progression similar to:

We’re seeking someone who has built a strong technical foundation first and leadership capability second.

The best candidates are:

• Comfortable on the manufacturing floor
• Strong communicators and coaches
• Technically credible with engineers and technicians
• Interested in building and improving systems rather than simply maintaining them

Why Join SSW Advanced Technologies?

The People and Expertise Behind Your Perfect Products

• Make a direct impact on site performance
• Lead engineering improvements that drive measurable results
• Work within a stable manufacturing organization with a long history of success
• Influence the future direction of a facility undergoing strategic transformation
• Join a culture built on teamwork, integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement

Our Core Values

• Integrity
• Caring for People
• Customer Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Improvement

Ready to Build What’s Next?

If you’re a manufacturing engineering professional looking for an opportunity to lead, improve processes, develop people, and help shape the future of a growing operation, we’d love to hear from you.