Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Actalent; Newton (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with Company</n

Job summary

Actalent in Newton, NC is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead a team of Manufacturing Engineers in a fast-paced Tier 1 automotive environment. This onsite leadership role focuses on driving efficiency, quality, and innovation on the plant floor.

You will mentor staff, implement APQP/ PFMEA and control plans, and push Lean, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 initiatives. Collaborating with product engineering, quality, operations, you will support launches, cost reductions, and uptime

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical/electrical or related field.
• 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in automotive.
• Experience leading a team of engineers and staff.
• Proficiency with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and control plans.
• CAD and manufacturing simulation tool proficiency.
• Knowledge of automation, robotics, PLCs, and Industry 4.0.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of Manufacturing Engineers and staff.
• Foster safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance to production and engineering teams.
• Design, develop, and optimize processes for efficiency and quality.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives.
• Analyze production data to find process improvements.
• Lead manufacturing activities for new product launches and changes.
• Ensure PFMEA, control plans, and process flows are completed.
• Collaborate with product engineering, quality, and operations.
• Specify, procure, and implement equipment and automation.
• Support installation, validation, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Drive automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing tech.
• Ensure compliance with IATF/ISO and customer requirements.
• Support audits and corrective actions; reduce defects and scrap.
• Monitor KPIs like OEE, cycle time, throughput, and efficiency.
• Support cost-reduction efforts, incl. labor and material optimization.
• Improve equipment reliability and uptime with maintenance teams.

Skills

Team Leadership

APQP & PFMEA

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

New Product Introduction

Automation & Industry 4.0

CAD Tools

Data Analysis (OEE, cycle time)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

CAD

Manufacturing Simulation Tools

PLC Systems

Automation Equipment

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Lead and manage a team of Manufacturing Engineers and technical staff to drive efficiency, quality, and innovation in a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers and technical staff.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical guidance and support to production and engineering teams.
• Design, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes for efficiency and quality.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen principles.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Lead manufacturing engineering activities for new product launches and engineering changes.
• Ensure APQP deliverables are met, including PFMEA, control plans, and process flow diagrams.
• Collaborate with product engineering, quality, and operations to ensure successful launches.
• Specify, procure, and implement manufacturing equipment, tooling, and automation systems.
• Support installation, validation, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Drive innovation through automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Ensure compliance with IATF, ISO standards, and customer requirements.
• Support internal and external audits and corrective action processes.
• Partner with quality teams to reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
• Monitor and improve key performance metrics (OEE, cycle time, throughput, and efficiency).
• Support cost reduction initiatives, including labor and material optimization.
• Work closely with maintenance and operations to improve equipment reliability and uptime.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related Engineering field.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the automotive industry, Tier 1 preferred.
• Experience leading a team of Engineers.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and control plans.
• Proficiency with CAD and manufacturing simulation tools.
• Knowledge of automation, robotics, PLCs, and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• New product introduction and program launching expertise.
• Quality and process improvement experience in IATF environments.
• Lean manufacturing and project management skills.

Work Environment

Fast-paced, high-volume Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment. This is a fully onsite leadership role with significant plant-floor presence, fostering a highly collaborative culture involving Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Product Engineering. The role demands a hands-on engineering approach, emphasizing Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. It involves significant involvement in equipment installation, process optimization, automation projects, and new program launches. The work environment is metrics-driven, with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Newton, NC.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $160000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Life Insurance and Disability Coverage 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match Additional Company-Sponsored Retirement Contributions Health & Wellness Programs Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Resources Paid Time Off and Company Holidays Professional Development and Career Growth Programs Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Inclusion Initiatives Community Involvement and Volunteer Opportunities Internal Advancement Opportunities Across a Global Organization

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Newton, NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 28, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Newton,NC.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.