Manufacturing Engineer Manager

SL Tennessee; Clinton (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SL Tennessee is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead Injection Molding, Painting, and Assembly operations. Develop manufacturing strategies, implement automation, and drive process improvements to achieve OEE, quality, and cost targets.

The role requires 10+ years in automotive manufacturing engineering or operations, 5+ years in leadership, and a BS in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Automotive Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, or Operations.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams and projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing Engineering activities across Injection Molding, Painting, and Assembly operations.
• Manage engineering resources, priorities, KPIs, and team development to support business objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians to achieve objectives.
• Lead manufacturing readiness for new programs from development through SOP and mass production.
• Ensure compliance with IATF, safety, and environmental standards.
• Develop layouts and capacity plans to support growth and efficiency.
• Lead annual CAPEX planning, budgeting, and equipment procurement.
• Improve uptime and efficiency through engineering and maintenance collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Automotive manufacturing

Lean Six Sigma

APQP

PFMEA

Project management

Automation

Budgeting/ROI

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

IATF 16949

Job description

About this position

Manufacturing engineer manager

General Description

Lead Manufacturing Engineering activities for Injection Molding, Painting, and Assembly operations.

Develop and implement manufacturing strategies, automation systems, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

II-2-1. Manufacturing Engineering Leadership

• Lead Manufacturing Engineering activities across Injection Molding, Painting, and Assembly operations.
• Manage engineering resources, priorities, KPIs, and team development to support business objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop Manufacturing Engineers and Engineering Technicians to achieve departmental objectives.

II-2-2. New Program Launch & Localization

• Lead manufacturing readiness activities from development through SOP and mass production.
• Maintain compliance with IATF, safety, and environmental standards.
• Prepare and manage engineering documents, reports, and production data.

II-2-3. Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance OEE, productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for recurring manufacturing issues.

II-2-4. Automation & Manufacturing Systems

• Lead automation projects including robotics, PLC, painting, injection molding equipment, and assembly equipment.
• Support manufacturing system development, commissioning, troubleshooting, and process stabilization.

II-2-5. Capacity Planning & Layout Management

• Develop manufacturing layouts and capacity plans to support business growth and operational efficiency.
• Analyze production requirements and optimize equipment, manpower, facility utilization, and manufacturing capacity.

II-2-6. CAPEX & Facility Development

• Lead annual CAPEX planning, budgeting, equipment procurement, and manufacturing investment projects.
• Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.

II-2-7. Equipment Reliability & Maintenance Support

• Improve equipment uptime and manufacturing efficiency through engineering and maintenance collaboration.
• Lead downtime reduction activities, root cause analysis, and long-term corrective actions.

Job Requirements

Work Experience

10+ years of experience in Automotive Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, or Operations.

5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams and manufacturing projects.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or related field required.

Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or TPM certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strong knowledge of Injection Molding, Painting, Assembly, Automation, and Manufacturing Systems.

Proficient in APQP, PFMEA, IATF 16949, Capacity Planning, Layout Design, and CAPEX Management.

Proven ability to lead manufacturing expansion, plant startup, and production transfer projects.

Strong financial and business acumen with experience in budgeting, CAPEX justification and ROI analysis.