Manufacturing Engineering Manager | 5-Axis & Lights-Out Ops

Fairbanks Morse Defense; Walpole, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Bird Johnson Walpole in Walpole, MA seeks an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead and develop the manufacturing engineering team. As Technical Authority, you ensure production methods meet design intent, providing support to operations while aligning capabilities with safety, quality, cost, delivery, and lead time targets.

You will drive innovation, implement digital manufacturing, and manage workload, capacity, and budgets, including lights-out manufacturing on advanced 5-axis

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience.
• Proven experience leading significant projects across various manufacturing engineering processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
• Master’s degree in Engineering with 6+ years of manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience managing complex manufacturing changes such as facility redesign, capital investments, technology insertion, new product introductions, or process revalidation.
• Demonstrated leadership skills providing technical and professional guidance to engineering teams.
• Experience collaborating with program managers to develop accurate and competitive quotes for upcoming projects, ensuring alignment of technical requirements, cost estimates, and schedules.
• Strong customer interface and stakeholder management experience.
• Experience with defense mil-spec products.
• Experience implementing digital manufacturing solutions.
• Track record of delivering improved operational performance under varying conditions, utilizing cross-functional teams.
• Experience with complex 5-axis machining, welding, and large assemblies in a high mix–low volume environment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all manufacturing processes and methods fully comply with Health, Safety & Environmental Standards and support the Zero Harm program.
• Develop and implement strategies to deploy the Product Safety Management System within your area of accountability.
• Foster a culture of Right First Time (RFT) manufacturing across the organization.
• Specify manufacturing engineering and process requirements; make technical decisions aligned with business needs.
• Lead, develop, and train the manufacturing engineering team to meet these requirements.
• Govern and prioritize improvements and innovations in manufacturing processes within your area.
• Integrate Manufacturing Technology, Digital Manufacturing, and Product Introduction activities to align with Manufacturing and Supply Chain strategies.
• Establish mechanisms to govern the achievement of Manufacturing Engineering deliverables, report status, and ensure resolution of issues and risks to meet project timelines.
• Manage manufacturing engineering workload, capacity planning, and budgets effectively.
• Implementing lights-out manufacturing on some of the latest 5-axis machine technology.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical guidance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Bird Johnson Walpole in Walpole, MA seeks an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead and develop the manufacturing engineering team. As Technical Authority, you ensure production methods meet design intent, providing support to operations while aligning capabilities with safety, quality, cost, delivery, and lead time targets.

You will drive innovation, implement digital manufacturing, and manage workload, capacity, and budgets, including lights-out manufacturing on advanced 5-axis