Manager, Engineering (Manufacturing)

Summit Polymers, Inc.; Elizabethtown (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Polymers, Inc. in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, seeks a Manager, Engineering (Manufacturing) to lead the manufacturing engineering team at our Elizabethtown facility, directing program development and delivering robust tooling and processes for three shift operations.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in engineering, 5+ years in automotive manufacturing, and proven leadership with lean, design for manufacturability, and problem solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related engineering discipline is required.
• Five years’ engineering experience in an automotive environment including injection molding, paint, and assembly processes is preferred.
• Supervisory or managerial experience in an automotive environment is required.
• Ability to communicate clearly at all levels of the organization; strong leadership and decision-making abilities are essential.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with high energy and motivation are important.

Responsibilities

• Directs, prioritizes and schedules activities of subordinates to achieve plant and department objectives for safety, quality, productivity and delivery.
• Leads root cause problem solving and continuous improvement with manufacturing and maintenance teams.
• Collaborates with plant lean manufacturing team on waste elimination and lean practices.
• Reviews part and system designs for manufacturability across molding, painting and assembly perspectives.
• Leads PFMEAs and participates in Mold Design Reviews and paint process planning.
• Ensures compliance with OSHA, IATF 16949 and environmental procedures and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related engineering discipline

Job description

P09 - Elizabethtown, 2201 West Park Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Friday, July 24, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Summit Polymers is a leading, global supplier of automotive interior systems including consoles, door panels, and instrument panels. With over 50 years serving the industry, we deliver engineering and product excellence to our customers, on time, in budget, with the latest innovations.

JOIN A TEAM WHERE YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED AND valued.

A career with Summit Polymers means working with smart people in a culture that thrives on challenging, meaningful work. At Summit, we look for growth potential with every hire. We don’t just fill seats, we set people on career paths. We’re always on the lookout for smart people who are committed to continuous improvement, customer service and quality.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Manager, Engineering (Manufacturing) FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: General Manager

SUMMARY

This is a technical and managerial position responsible for directing the manufacturing engineering team at a Summit Polymers manufacturing facility. While working collaboratively with plant and corporate resources in program development, the manufacturing engineering manager is responsible to develop and deliver robust product designs, tooling and processes to production. Typical tooling and processes include: injection molds, mold processing & automation, paint equipment & tooling, paint automation & processing, and secondary assembly equipment & processes. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager provides tooling and process support for three shift production operations through life of program. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is a champion of effective root cause problem solving and driving continuous improvement.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Is responsible for the following major tasks:

• Directs, prioritizes and schedules activities of subordinates to achieve plant and department performance objectives for safety, quality, productivity, and delivery
  • Ensures proper training of engineers and mentors them and other key personnel to ensure a competent workforce
• Owner of capable manufacturing processes throughout plant
  • Directs the development, validation, documentation, control of all:
    • Injection molding processes and molding automation systems
    • Paint processes, robot programs and paint automation systems
    • Assembly processes
    • All other processes
    • Develops standardized work (Operator Instruction Sheets) and trains key manufacturing personnel
  • Leads root cause problem solving and continuous improvement activities, working with manufacturing and maintenance, to solve problems related to safety, scrap, operational availability (machine up time), and productivity (cycle times)
  • Collaborates with the plant lean manufacturing team on eliminating waste and implementing lean tools and practices.
• Collaborates with corporate engineering, advanced manufacturing, and plant staff on new products in development and production engineering changes( ECs)
  • Provides necessary plant Manufacturing Engineering resources necessary to complete KBPD development
  • Participates in program quote development, provides feedback and assumptions based on customer data received, ensures quoted machine sizes, cycles times and scraps rates can be achieved
  • Reviews part and system design for manufacturability considering molding, painting, assembly, and packaging perspectives
  • Leads development and maintenance of PFMEAs
  • Participates in Mold Design Reviews, assessing designs for robust tooling conditions, process and part removal optimization, and ease of maintenance
  • Leads paint process planning and directs and reviews paint rack concepts and prototypes assessing ergonomics, density, part retention, and ability to paint all surfaces per requirements
  • Participates in assembly process planning, reviews machine design for safety, ergonomics, robustness, and productivity
  • Directs customer, internal, and supplier product packaging development.
  • Champions introduction of new product tooling and processes into plant, collaborating with plant staff to schedule, train, process, trial run, document as required to fully prepare for production
  • Communicates ECs with the plant and schedules and manages implementation of changes to injection molds, paint, and assembly machines and processes
• Directs tooling and equipment preventive maintenance and repairs
  • Molding - Develops preventive maintenance instructions & schedules and directs repairs of injection molds, end of arm tooling, and degaters.
  • Paint - Develops preventive maintenance instructions & schedules and directs repairs of paint racks, paint fluid equipment, and paint lines
  • Assembly – Develops preventive maintenance instructions & schedules and directs repairs of assembly equipment
  • Directs outside vendors when required for maintenance and repair
• Ensures compliance with all OSHA and other regulatory and safety standards
• Supports development of and adherence to IATF 16949 systems and procedures
• Ensures compliance with environmental procedures and reporting requirements
• Administers and tracks cost reduction efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree in related engineering discipline
• Five years’ engineering experience in an automotive environment
  • Required - working knowledge of injection mold design, maintenance and repair, scientific injection mold processing, robotic part removal end of arm tooling and programming
  • Desired – working knowledge of paint processing and robotic programming, and secondary assembly processes (including plastic welding techniques, PLC programming)
• Supervisory or managerial experience in an automotive environment
• Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem solving skills is essential
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing at all levels in the organization
• Outstanding leadership, team building, coaching and decision making abilities
• High energy level and the ability to lead and motivate others

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Possesses the ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.

• A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (Traditional Score of 26 on the cognitive section).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This position typically does require less than 5% travel.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Agreement to complete all post-hire required training.

P09 - Elizabethtown, 2201 West Park Road, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States of America