Full time

OpTalent; Lake Forest (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Zohorecruit is seeking an experienced Sr. Process Engineering Manager for plastic injection molding and assembly to lead a technical team in Foothill Ranch, CA.

You will oversee operations, drive process optimization, equipment implementation, and continuous improvement. The role requires a hands-on leader with Lean Six Sigma, CapEx/OpEx budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration with maintenance, NPD, and R&D to deliver 3–5 year strategic plans and manufacturing excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or closely related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of management experience in a similar environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of plastic injection molding and manufacturing processes.
• 3+ years of automation experience/exposure.
• Experience applying Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and coach teams through Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee technical operations related to plastic injection molding, including process optimization, troubleshooting, equipment performance, and maintenance.
• Lead a team responsible for the development, qualification, and successful implementation of manufacturing processes and equipment on the production floor.
• Establish priorities and provide strategic and tactical direction to the engineering/manufacturing team.
• Lead Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Develop and manage team budgets, including CapEx and OpEx, while ensuring projects remain aligned with business objectives.
• Coach team members on Lean Manufacturing, data-driven problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Work closely with Maintenance, Tooling, New Product Development, R&D, and other cross-functional teams to resolve challenges.
• Evaluate new product and process handoffs, identify gaps, and develop practical solutions when requirements are not met.
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic, high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Develop a 3–5 year strategic vision for the team in collaboration with cross-functional leadership.
• Drive accountability, technical development, and performance within the team.
• Support automation and technology initiatives designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and reliability.

Skills

Management experience

Plastic injection molding

Data-driven problem solving

Lean manufacturing

Automation experience

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Sr. Process Engineering Manager (Plastic InjectionMoulding)

Location: Foothill Ranch, California

Employment Type: Full-Time

Schedule: On-site; Day-Shift

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Process Engineering Manager with a strong background in plastic injection molding and Assembly tolead a technical team supporting manufacturing operations.

This individual will be responsible for technicaloperations, process optimization, equipment implementation, continuousimprovement, and team leadership. The ideal candidate combines strong hands‑ontechnical knowledge with proven management experience and the ability to leadcross‑functional initiatives in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Overseetechnical operations related to plastic injection molding,including process optimization, troubleshooting, equipment performance,and maintenance.
  
• Lead ateam responsible for the development, qualification, and successfulimplementation of manufacturing processes and equipment on theproduction floor.
  
• Establishpriorities and provide strategic and tactical direction to theengineering/manufacturing team.
  
• Lead OperationalExcellence and Continuous Improvement initiatives across manufacturingoperations.
  
• Developand manage team budgets, including CapEx and OpEx, while ensuringprojects remain aligned with business objectives.
  
• Coachteam members on Lean Manufacturing, data-driven problem solving, andcontinuous improvement methodologies.
  
• Workclosely with Maintenance, Tooling, New Product Development, R&D, andother cross‑functional teams to resolve technical and operationalchallenges.
  
• Evaluatenew product and process handoffs, identify gaps, and develop practicalsolutions when requirements are not being met.
  
• Manageand prioritize multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic, high-volumemanufacturing environment.
  
• Developa 3–5 year strategic vision for the team in collaboration withcross‑functional leadership.
  
• Driveaccountability, technical development, and performance within the team.
  
• Supportautomation and technology initiatives designed to improve manufacturingefficiency, quality, and reliability.
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’sdegree in Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
  
• 5+years of management experience within a similar environment
  
• Strongtechnical knowledge of plastic injection molding and manufacturingprocesses.
  
• Provenexperience managing CapEx and OpEx budgets.
  
• 3+years of automation experience/exposure.
  
• Experienceapplying Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
  
• Demonstratedability to lead and coach teams through Continuous Improvementinitiatives.
  
• Stronganalytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to make sounddecisions under pressure.
  
• Excellentleadership, communication, interpersonal, and cross‑functionalcollaboration skills.
  
• Abilityto manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast‑paced manufacturingenvironment.