Manager, Manufacturing & Test Engineering

PLUG POWER INC; Slingerlands (NY); On-site; USD 114,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Bonus eligibility

Paid time off

Job summary

Plug Power Inc. seeks a Manager of Manufacturing & Test Engineering to lead a ~12-person team, spanning test, process, and manufacturing engineering technicians.

You will own test assets, standardize platforms, and drive improvements in quality, throughput, and cost on the production floor. You will collaborate with Production, R&D, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Quality, directing budgets and KPI tracking while mentoring engineers and interns, and guiding equipment/vendor management to meet

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering or a STEM-related discipline is required.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing/production.
• Experience managing engineers and/or technicians as a formal people leader.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of test engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing technicians.
• Own the manufacturing engineering ticketing system with escalation paths and backlog reporting.
• Drive standardization of test platforms and manufacturing documentation across product lines.

Skills

Team Leadership

Test Engineering

Process Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Data Analysis

Education

B.S. in Engineering or STEM

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Manager, Manufacturing & Test EngineeringStatus: Exempt (salaried)Reports To: Director, Manufacturing EngineeringPosition SummaryThe Manager, Manufacturing & Test Engineering leads the test engineering, process engineering, and manufacturing engineering technician functions supporting Plug Power’s production operations. The Manager directs a team of approximately twelve, including process engineers, test engineers, a test software developer, and manufacturing engineering technicians, and is accountable for the performance, development, and retention of that team while contributing personal technical depth to the work.The position owns the responsiveness of engineering support to the production floor, drives standardization across test platforms and manufacturing documentation, and partners closely with Production, R&D, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Quality to align priorities and deliver measurable improvements in quality, throughput, and cost.Core Duties and ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership and DevelopmentLead, develop, and mentor a team of test engineers, process engineers, and manufacturing engineering technicians; establish individual development plans for junior staff and structured onboarding for new team membersOwn the manufacturing engineering ticketing system: set response and closure expectations, establish the technician group as first responders with clear escalation paths to process and test engineering, and report on backlog, cycle time, and recurring issue themesPartner with Production leadership to set and continuously realign engineering priorities against the build schedule and floor constraintsDevelop and manage the engineering intern program within the function, including project scoping and mentorship assignmentOwn and manage the operating and capital budgets for both the process engineering and test engineering functions, including spend forecasting, prioritization, and justification of capital requestsDefine, track, and communicate team performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs)Test EngineeringOwn the development, maintenance, and lifecycle management of all production test assets, including digital test (device I/O interfacing) and physical test (flow rate measurement, pressure decay, and similar functional verification)Drive standardization of test platforms across product lines — hardware architecture, instrumentation, software structure, calibration, and documentation — to a common, sustainable baselineProvide technical direction to the LabVIEW software developer and to engineers building Python-based test and data analysis tools; ensure consistent practices for code structure, revision control, and documentationManage external vendors and integrators for test fixtures, stands, and programs that exceed internal capability: define requirements, evaluate proposals, oversee execution, and conduct acceptance testingEnsure test coverage, repeatability, and measurement system integrity; use production test data to identify recurring failure modes and drive corrective actionProcess EngineeringOwn the development and maintenance of work instructions and standard operating procedures; drive the current initiative to bring all work instructions to a verified, current stateOwn ERP routing accuracy and maintenance; lead the verification and subsequent restructuring of bills of material to better support manufacturing executionDirect time studies, labor standards, line balancing, and capacity analysis to support throughput and staffing decisionsOwn control plans, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), and job hazard analyses (JHAs) for production processesLead tooling and fixture design, procurement, and maintenance programsDrive Lean and 5S implementation on the floor, including Kaizen events, standard work, and visual controlsLead continuous improvement projects targeting cycle time, first-pass yield, scrap, rework, and ergonomicsCross-Functional CoordinationCoordinate with R&D on new and changing product designs to ensure manufacturability, testability, and production readinessPartner with Supply Chain and Warehouse on material flow, BOM structure, and component availabilityPartner with Quality on nonconforming material disposition, corrective action, and process capabilityAlways represent Plug Power in a professional manner in all interactionsPerform all other duties as assignedEducation and ExperienceRequiredBS in Engineering or a STEM-related discipline7+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing or production environment, including a minimum of 3 years directly managing engineers and/or technicians as a formal people leaderDemonstrated ownership of the full people management cycle: hiring, goal setting, performance management, coaching, and the development of junior engineers, technicians, and internsHands-on experience with production test systems, including test stand or fixture development, electronic instrumentation, and data acquisitionElectronics experience including reading schematics, sensor and instrumentation selection, and troubleshooting electrical and electronic test hardwareExperience developing and maintaining manufacturing process documentation, including work instructions and standard operating proceduresDemonstrated application of structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5-Why, or DMAICExperience managing external vendors or integrators through requirements definition, execution, and acceptanceAbility to read and interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, P&IDs, and process documentationStrong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present to leadership and translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholdersPreferredDegree in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering; MS a plusExperience leading a team of eight or more, or managing across two or more distinct engineering disciplinesWorking knowledge of LabVIEW and/or Python sufficient to direct and review the work of test software developersHands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems, including routing maintenance and BOM structureExperience with PFMEA, control plans, time studies, and labor standardsLean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)Experience owning a departmental operating or capital budget and building capital investment justificationsExperience managing a production support ticketing or work order system against defined response and closure targetsBackground in electromechanical assembly, fuel cell, or other complex hardware manufacturing environmentsPay Rate:$114,000.00 - $185,250.00We offer a fantastic total rewards package at Plug, and a brief summary is below:✓Base salary is determined on a number of factors including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. These factors are considered when making an offer of employment. If you are interested in this position, we’d ask that you apply.✓The above pay range, may not take into account local geographic pay variations. If there is an applicable geographic differential, a member of the HR team can discuss that with you.✓Health, Dental & Vision Insurance eligibility starting from the first day of hire✓401(k) with 5% company match✓Bonus eligibility✓Paid time off including vacation, personal and sick time✓Paid Holidays✓Wellness Reimbursement Program✓Potential to apply for Tuition Reimbursement✓Employee Referral program✓Employee Assistance ProgramPlug Power Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.