Engineering Manager

Fabcon; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Fabcon in Santa Ana, CA seeks an experienced Engineering Manager to lead the engineering function for sheet metal fabrication. You will oversee design and manufacturing engineering, drive continuous improvement, and ensure on-time program execution.

You will mentor a team of design and manufacturing engineers, partner with production, quality, and estimating, and champion design-for-manufacturability and cost optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in sheet metal fabrication with leadership experience.
• Proficiency with CAD/CAM software (SolidWorks) and familiarity with DFM.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and engineering documentation / revision control.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerancing, and materials common to sheet metal fabrication.
• Demonstrated experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering team (design and manufacturing engineers, drafters).
• Own the engineering roadmap and resource planning to support production demand and new business.
• Serve as the technical authority across fabrication processes (laser cutting, punching, forming, welding, assembly).
• Oversee part and product design, drawings, and 3D models for manufacturability and cost.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, routings, tooling, and fixturing.
• Support estimating and quoting with process planning, material selection, and cost analysis.
• Lead new product introduction (NPI), prototyping, and first-article efforts from concept to production.
• Drive continuous improvement and lean initiatives to improve throughput, yield, cycle time, and cost.
• Evaluate and implement new equipment, automation, and software to advance manufacturing capability.
• Analyze production and quality data to identify and resolve engineering or process issues.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Lean manufacturing

Strong communication

Problem solving

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead the engineering function at our sheet metal fabrication facility. This role owns the design, manufacturing engineering, and continuous improvement of fabricated sheet metal products — from quoting and new product introduction through production support. The Engineering Manager leads and develops a team of design and manufacturing engineers, partners closely with production, quality, and sales/estimating, and drives design-for-manufacturability, process efficiency, and on-time program execution.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering team (design and manufacturing engineers, drafters), setting priorities and holding the group accountable to project timelines and quality standards.
• Own the engineering roadmap and resource planning to support production demand and new business.
• Serve as the technical authority across fabrication processes — laser cutting, punching, forming/bending, welding, and assembly.

Design & Manufacturing Engineering

• Oversee part and product design, drawings, and 3D models, ensuring designs are optimized for manufacturability (DFM) and cost.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, routings, tooling, and fixturing.
• Support estimating and quoting with process planning, material selection, and cost analysis.
• Lead new product introduction (NPI), prototyping, and first-article efforts, driving parts smoothly from concept to production.

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement and lean initiatives to improve throughput, yield, cycle time, and cost.
• Evaluate and implement new equipment, automation, and software to advance manufacturing capability.
• Analyze production and quality data to identify and resolve recurring engineering or process issues.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner with Quality to maintain ISO 9001 (and AS9100, if applicable) standards, supporting corrective action, root-cause analysis, and process validation.
• Ensure engineering documentation, revision control, and change management are accurate and consistently followed.
• Ensure designs and processes meet applicable customer, industry, and regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with production and operations to resolve build issues and improve manufacturing flow.
• Support sales and estimating on technical feasibility, tolerances, and customer design reviews.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for key customers on design and manufacturing questions.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in sheet metal fabrication or a comparable metal manufacturing environment, including team leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of sheet metal fabrication processes — laser/punch, forming, welding, and assembly — and associated equipment.
• Proficiency with CAD/CAM software (e.g., SolidWorks) and familiarity with sheet metal design principles and DFM.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and engineering documentation / revision control.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerancing, and materials common to sheet metal fabrication.
• Demonstrated experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Experience in a regulated environment (AS9100 / aerospace, defense, or medical).
• Experience with laser programming, turret punch, and press brake equipment a plus
• Deep ERP expertise and process optimization
• Familiarity with automation, robotics, or advanced fabrication equipment (e.g., Amada, TRUMPF).
• Six Sigma or other formal continuous-improvement certification.