Engineering Manager

JMJ Phillip Group; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

JMJ Phillip Group seeks an experienced Engineering Manager to lead engineering teams across chemical and process manufacturing, delivering data-driven improvements to safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

You will drive Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen initiatives, manage capital projects, mentor engineers, and collaborate with operations, maintenance, and quality to achieve measurable results across sites in the South Bend area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 7+ years engineering experience in chemical or process manufacturing.
• 3+ years of people leadership or supervisory experience.
• Proven success leading process improvement initiatives with measurable results.
• Experience managing capital projects in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with PLC systems (Rockwell) and SAP; standard engineering software.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams through coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Establish team goals aligned with manufacturing objectives.
• Support succession planning and build engineering capabilities across the organization.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other methodologies.
• Identify and implement solutions to improve safety, quality, productivity, and costs.
• Analyze manufacturing data to identify performance gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Apply automation and emerging technologies to optimize processes.
• Plan and oversee capital projects including scope, budgets, schedules, and resources.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners for project delivery.
• Ensure safety, environmental, regulatory, and quality compliance across engineering activities.
• Support Process Safety Management (PSM) programs and risk reduction.

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching

Performance management

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Rockwell PLC

SAP

Engineering software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead engineering teams across manufacturing operations, drive continuous improvement, and enhance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance. The ideal candidate has a strong background in chemical or process manufacturing, capital project management, and people leadership, with the ability to implement data-driven solutions and develop high-performing engineering teams.

Position Responsibilities

Engineering Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering team members through coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Establish team goals and priorities aligned with manufacturing objectives.
• Support succession planning and build engineering capabilities across the organization.

Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other established methodologies.
• Identify and implement solutions to improve safety, product quality, productivity, and operating costs.
• Analyze manufacturing data to identify performance gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Apply automation and emerging technologies to optimize manufacturing processes.

Capital Project Management

• Plan and oversee capital projects, including project scope, budgets, schedules, resource allocation, and execution.
• Manage capital expenditures while ensuring projects meet operational requirements and financial objectives.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to ensure successful project delivery.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with operations, maintenance, and quality teams to resolve complex manufacturing challenges.
• Lead change management initiatives to support the implementation and long-term adoption of improvements.
• Develop scalable engineering solutions that support consistent performance across manufacturing sites.

Safety, Quality, and Compliance

• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and quality requirements.
• Support Process Safety Management (PSM) programs and risk-reduction initiatives.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and workplace safety.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of engineering experience in chemical or process manufacturing environments.
• At least 3 years of people leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated success leading process improvement initiatives with measurable results.
• Experience managing capital projects in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with PLC systems, such as Rockwell, SAP, and standard engineering software.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Certifications (Preferred, but Not Required)

• Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Additional training in process safety, operational excellence, or project management.

What the Role Offers

• Competitive annual salary ranging from $135,000 to $160,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• An opportunity to lead engineering initiatives across multiple manufacturing operations.
• The ability to drive capital investment projects and meaningful operational improvements.
• Opportunities for professional development and engineering team growth.
• A leadership role with a direct impact on manufacturing safety, efficiency, quality, and business performance.

Why South Bend?

South Bend offers a strong industrial and manufacturing environment, with access to engineering talent, technical resources, and regional supply chain networks. Its established manufacturing base provides opportunities for engineering leaders to apply their expertise in process optimization, capital project execution, and operational excellence while contributing to the growth and development of manufacturing teams.