Manager, Manufacturing Engineer

Hitachi; McMinnville (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Physics Technology (APT), located in Oregon's wine country, seeks a hands-on Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead a team of engineers and technicians in producing precision electron-source components. You will drive process improvements, cost reductions, and new technology implementations while ensuring quality compliance and supplier validation.

The role requires strong technical leadership in high-tech manufacturing, with a focus on continuous improvement, equipment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering in high-tech/regulated industries.
• 3+ years leadership of engineers/technicians.
• Experience with process development and equipment qualification.
• Knowledge of ISO quality systems.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 7 manufacturing engineers and technicians.
• Drive production support, quality, and supplier-related activities.
• Foster continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Oversee production equipment qualification and maintenance.
• Ensure quality systems compliance and CAPA management.
• Collaborate with R&D for NPI transitions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Materials Engineering

Master’s degree, a plus

Tools

8D / FMEA / 5-Why

AS9100 / ISO standards

Equipment qualification

Job description

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering - APT

Company: Applied Physics Technology

Status: Regular Full Time

The Company:

Applied Physics Technologies is a leading manufacturer of thermionic and field-emission cathodes and related electron-source assemblies. Located in the heart of Oregon’s wine country, APT combines the global reach and resources of Hitachi High-Tech with the close-knit culture and individual impact of a smaller, growing manufacturing company.

Our products incorporate specialized materials, high-vacuum processes, precision manufacturing, high-voltage conditioning, and exacting assembly and test requirements. Because our engineering and production teams work closely together, Manufacturing Engineers at APT have a direct and visible impact on product quality, delivery performance, manufacturing capability, and customer satisfaction. For more information on APT and Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.a-p-tech.com/

Summary:

We are seeking a hands-on, results-driven Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead a team of engineers and technicians supporting the production of high-tech components used in electron microscopes, x-ray tubes, additive manufacturing systems, lithography tools, and metrology tools. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing daily production support, driving process and cost improvements, implementing new technologies, ensuring quality compliance, and supporting supplier technical validation. This role requires a strong technical background, proven leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 7 manufacturing engineers and technicians.
• Prioritize and balance workloads across production support, quality, and supplier-related activities.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.

Production Support

• Ensure smooth daily manufacturing operations by addressing technical issues, bottlenecks, and urgent challenges.
• Drive process improvements to improve yield, throughput, and efficiency.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through process optimization, waste reduction, and improved resource utilization.
• Oversee implementation, qualification, and validation of new manufacturing equipment.
• Manage preventive maintenance and calibration programs for critical production tools.

Quality & Compliance

• Provide oversight for non-conformances (NCs), material deviation notices (MDNs), return material authorizations (RMAs), and corrective & preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Ensure compliance with internal quality systems and external regulatory requirements.
• Lead initiatives in continuous improvement and root cause analysis.
• Maintain and update process documentation, work instructions, and control plans.
• Support incoming inspection and ensure supplier-provided components meet specifications.
• Partner with Supply Chain to evaluate and qualify new suppliers from a technical standpoint.
• Manage supplier process validations and first article inspections.
• Collaborate with purchasing and suppliers to resolve technical issues and ensure long‑term supplier capability.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Collaborate with R&D and product engineering teams to transition new products into manufacturing.
• Develop and validate manufacturing processes for NPIs to ensure scalability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or related Engineering field required; Master’s degree a plus.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high-tech, precision, or regulated industries.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineers and/or technicians.
• Strong background in process development, equipment qualification, and manufacturing problem solving.
• Working knowledge of quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, or equivalent).
• Experience with root cause analysis tools (e.g., 8D, FMEA, 5-Why, Fishbone).
• Demonstrated success in continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).
• Experience with UHV, high voltage, and electron microscopy a plus.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally.
• Hands‑on, proactive leader with the ability to operate effectively in both strategic and tactical capacities.

Our Values

We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are proud of Japanese heritage, with our values expressed through the Hitachi Spirit:

Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect

Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity