Engineering Manager - Manufacturing

ZF Group; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Plan

Paid Vacation

401k Plan

Health Care Benefits

Paid Holidays

Diversity culture

Job summary

ZF Chassis Components, LLC in the United States seeks an Engineering Manager – Manufacturing to provide leadership for a diverse engineering and tooling team. You will drive continuous improvement, optimize processes, and expand capacity while ensuring safety, quality and cost targets.

You will oversee budgets and production costs, guide design reviews for manufacturability, and coordinate across departments to deliver on schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business and 8–10+ years of advanced engineering experience.
• 5+ years of solid operations experience in manufacturing, automotive parts industry preferred.
• 2+ years of proven leadership, coaching, and people-management abilities.
• Strong knowledge of safety, quality, delivery and production processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing, CNC, assembly, robotics and controls support activities to improve performance.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing methods, tooling and standard work; support design reviews.
• Manage projects, customer coordination and quotations for new programs and changes.
• Ensure product quality, compliance with processes, and safe work practices.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost reduction through new technologies and lean methods.

Skills

Leadership

Lean principles

Project management

Budgeting

Manufacturing engineering

Change management

Communication

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (Engineering or Business)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Req ID 92339 | Lapeer, United States ZF Chassis Components, LLC

Job Description

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Engineering Manager – Manufacturing will provide leadership and direction to a diverse technical team, including manufacturing engineers, process engineers, pre-setters, and tooling technicians. This position will play a key role in improving operational performance by identifying cost-saving opportunities, enhancing process control, streamlining production, and expanding capacity. The Engineering Manager will drive continuous improvement initiatives and develop solutions that strengthen manufacturing efficiency, quality, and overall performance throughout the program lifecycle.

What you can look forward to as Engineering Manager- Manufacturing:

• Serve on the plant leadership team in a staff-level position, driving daily operating results and agreed objectives; represent ZF, enhance its reputation, and exercise Level III Signature Authority in accordance with the ZF North America Signature Policy and Group Directive 06/02.
• Manage budgets, resource allocation, expense reporting, and financial results for manpower, equipment, capital, and tooling; control assembly cost per unit, including labor and production costs, against BP assumptions while meeting customer and company requirements.
• Lead machining, CNC, assembly, robotics, and controls support activities; troubleshoot machine malfunctions, oversee special production machinery design, and drive production performance, OEE improvement, daily support, change management, and launch support.
• Develop, implement, and maintain manufacturing methods, processes, tooling, procedures, and standard work; guide equipment utilization and manufacturing specifications, participate in design reviews, improve design for manufacturability early in development, and contribute to FMEA and PFMEA.
• Manage projects, customer coordination, and technical design and development tasks to meet timing, cost, and quality targets; support quotations for new programs and changes, and prepare monthly and as-needed project status reports and reviews.
• Ensure part integrity, product quality, compliance with quality processes and procedures, and safe work practices for self and others; ensure manufactured or purchased products meet functional requirements at the lowest possible cost.
• Lead, develop, and deploy engineers, tooling technicians, and tool pre-setters; coordinate across departments and serve as the manufacturing–engineering liaison, maintain open-door communication and a union-free, issue-free environment, and fulfill global Center of Competence responsibility for structured parts.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost reduction through new technologies, materials, fixtures, processes, and design improvements; maintain records to evaluate product performance against estimates and track OEE, financial results, TEEP, PE, tooling costs, IPPM, and overtime. Perform other reasonable tasks as required; these responsibilities are not exhaustive.

Your Profile as Engineering Manager- Manufacturing:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Business or Engineering preferred) and 8 – 10+ years of advanced engineering experience
• 5+ years of solid working experience in operations (manufacturing environment; automotive parts industry manufacturing experience desired) and relevant functions
• 2+ years of proven leadership skills and experience, capable of handling employee-related issues and building trust; coaching and mentoring skills; interpersonal and communication skills; ability to empower others
• Comprehensive knowledge of technical and specialized manufacturing/operations and engineering techniques, policies and procedures; in-depth knowledge of Safety, Quality, Delivery and Production; knowledge of TS 16949 and ISO 14000 system requirements
• Expert-level knowledge of plant operations management and lean principles, processes and techniques, including Lean Management, Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement
• Advanced knowledge of business processes and/or technical expertise in product/material market; in-depth knowledge of business strategy and/or strategic planning; business / finance / planning management acumen
• Transformation competence and organizational development skills; excellent problem-solving skills; capable of making sound decisions in a timely manner; results-oriented
• Proficient computer skills with Microsoft Office and Outlook; excellent time management and prioritizing skills (ability to prioritize and schedule daily tasks); ability to travel both domestically and internationally

What we Offer

• A supportive collaborative team environment
• Annual Incentive Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Personal Time
• 401k Plan
• Health Care Benefits
• Paid Holidays
• A strong diversity culture
• Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice.

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility.

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Aff… M/F/Disability/Veteran