Engineering Manager

Pequot Manufacturing; Pequot Lakes (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Pequot Manufacturing is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of the Engineering department. You will supervise 11 direct reports, ensure on-time, on-spec project delivery, and act as the primary technical contact for customers on engineering issues.

The role emphasizes strategic planning, resource coordination, and continuous improvement to align processes with cost, quality, and capacity goals. Strong leadership and manufacturing acumen are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering or manufacturing teams with direct customer interface.
• Strong leadership and business acumen in a job shop or precision manufacturing setting.
• Proficient with PC-based tools; CAD familiarity and metrology tools a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end engineering project execution from quote through production release.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance management of direct reports.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers on engineering matters.
• Identify and define manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Oversee coordination and integration of technical activities within engineering.
• Develop and enforce engineering policies with Quality Manager for compliance.
• Conduct performance and wage evaluations for direct reports.
• Participate in Management Team meetings and support company objectives.
• Undertake additional tasks as directed by leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Adaptability

Decision making

Goal oriented

Management skills

Relationship building

Working under pressure

Consensus building

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Word

CAD software

CMM/VMM programming

Job description

Description

Department: Engineering

Job Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Director of Sales & Engineering

Grade/Level: Management Team

Amount of Travel Required: Occasional, less than 25%

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:00pm

Positions Supervised:

11 direct reports: 4 Process Technicians, 4 CAD Design Engineers, 1 CMM Programmer, 1 Calibration Technician, and 1 Fabrication Development Leader. Managers provide supervision to direct reports within their respective department as well as providing leadership to all employees within the company.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a key member of the Management Team, the Engineering Manager owns the day-to-day leadership and technical execution of the Engineering department, including direct supervision of the department’s direct reports. This role is accountable for the on-time, on-spec, and cost-effective execution of engineering projects from after quote through production release, and serves as the primary technical point of contact for customers on engineering matters, partnering with the Director of Sales & Engineering on customer facing opportunities. The Engineering Manager drives strategic planning, resource coordination, and continuous improvement efforts to align manufacturing processes with cost, quality, and capacity goals. Partners with the Quality Manager to maintain compliance with the Company’s Quality Management System; and identifies, addresses, and is accountable for waste in manufacturing processes, optimizing actual capacity and driving a process-oriented approach to enhance operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions Statement(s)

Ø Own end-to-end technical execution of engineering projects — from quote review through production release — ensuring on-time, on-spec, and cost-effective delivery across the department’s direct reports.

Ø Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance management to direct reports, fostering a culture of cost improvement and process accountability.

Ø Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers on engineering matters — design reviews, feasibility studies, and technical issue resolution — partnering with the Director of Sales & Engineering on customer-facing opportunities.

Ø Identify and define effective manufacturing processes for the use of labor and machines, implementing solutions to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.

Ø Oversee the coordination and integration of technical activities within engineering, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and project schedules.

Ø Develop and enforce engineering policies, standards, and procedures, partnering with the Quality Manager to ensure compliance with the Company’s Quality Management System and industry best practices.

Ø Conduct performance and wage evaluations for direct reports, promoting professional growth and maintaining high standards of performance.

Ø Participate in Management Team meetings, contributing insights and supporting decisions that drive company objectives.

Ø Undertake additional tasks and responsibilities as directed by the President or Directors.

Requirements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Competency Statement(s)

• Adaptability - Ability to adapt to change in the workplace.
• Change Management - Ability to encourage others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
• Consensus Building - Ability to bring about group solidarity to achieve a goal.
• Decision Making - Ability to make critical decisions while following company procedures.
• Goal Oriented - Ability to focus on a goal and obtain a pre-determined result.
• Leadership - Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions.
• Management Skills - Ability to organize and direct oneself and effectively supervise others.
• Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with customers, vendors and co-workers.
• Working Under Pressure - Ability to complete assigned tasks under stressful situations.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education: Degree not necessarily required; successful manager demonstrates leadership and business acumen; understands job shop manufacturing uniqueness.

Experience: Previous experience leading engineering or manufacturing teams, with direct customer interface experience (technical reviews, quoting support, issue resolution) in a job shop or precision manufacturing environment strongly preferred.

Computer Skills Ability to use personal computer and related programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and related business programs; familiarity with CAD software and CMM/VMM (metrology) programming and reporting tools is a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Demands Lift/Carry

Stand F (Frequently)

Walk F (Frequently)

Sit F (Frequently)

Handling / Fingering F (Frequently)

Reach Outward O (Occasionally)

Reach Above Shoulder O (Occasionally)

Climb N (Not Applicable)

Crawl N (Not Applicable)

Squat or Kneel O (Occasionally)

Bend or Twist O (Occasionally)

10 lbs. or less F (Frequently)

11-20 lbs. F (Frequently)

21-50 lbs. O (Occasionally)

51-100 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

Over 100 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

Push/Pull

12 lbs. or less O (Occasionally)

13-25 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

26-40 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

41-100 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this occupation.

O (Occasionally) Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs./day)

F (Frequently) Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs./day)

C (Constantly) Occupation requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs./day)

Other Physical Requirements

Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Protective footwear/steel toe & safety eyewear when in the manufacturing areas.)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Modern precision job shop, specializing in fabrication and machining close tolerance, complex parts of shorter run; varied customer base. Modern cubical and/or office work areas.

The Company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.