Manufacturing Engineering Manager – Automotive

Software Placement Group; Saint Joseph (MI); On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Relocation package

Job summary

Software Placement Group in Saint Joseph, MI is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead a tenured team on site, drive plant efficiency, and oversee new product launches in a high-tech automotive environment.

The role requires strong leadership, project management, and hands-on experience in metals manufacturing, with a focus on Lean methods and KPI development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; an Associate's degree will be considered with strong experience.
• At least five years in a similar manufacturing engineering management role with a strong background in manufacturing/process engineering.
• Experience working in metals environments such as stamping, machining, fabrication, etc.
• Strong continuous improvement background with proven examples of scrap reduction and efficiency improvements.
• Experience overseeing direct reports.
• Project management experience, including overseeing timelines and budgets.
• Experience with product launches.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, including the ability to read blueprints.
• Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Engineering Technicians, organizing daily priorities and communication.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, cross-training efforts, and establish/improve KPIs.
• Take full ownership of organizing and executing engineering activities related to new product launches.
• Serve as the first point of contact for resolving engineering issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other department managers, suppliers, and external contractors.
• Create detailed engineering plans, standardized processes, and operating procedures.
• Monitor and manage department labor utilization to keep projects on schedule.
• Apply Lean methods and data-driven problem-solving to keep high-volume automotive engineering projects on track.
• Direct capital equipment projects from conception to execution, including vendor vetting, cost/ROI analysis, and advancements in CNC machining, fixtures, and cutting tools.
• Collaborate with the design engineering team on project design conceptualization and development of specialized production fixtures and cutting tools.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Process engineering

Lean manufacturing

Blueprints reading

MS Office

Team supervision

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: St Joseph, MI area | Schedule: Full-time, on-site | Compensation: Competitive salary with annual bonus potential

Overview

A profitable, long-established automotive manufacturer with a diverse business mix and a strong pipeline of new product launches is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager. This role leads a stable, tenured engineering team and reports directly to the General Manager, offering the opportunity to shape plant efficiency and drive successful product launches in a high-tech manufacturing environment.

What you'll do

• Supervise and mentor a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Engineering Technicians, organizing daily priorities and communication
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, cross-training efforts, and establish/improve key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Take full ownership of organizing and executing engineering activities related to new product launches
• Serve as the first point of contact for resolving engineering issues on the manufacturing floor
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other department managers, suppliers, and external contractors
• Create detailed engineering plans, standardized processes, and operating procedures
• Monitor and manage department labor utilization to keep projects on schedule
• Apply Lean methods and data-driven problem-solving to keep high-volume automotive engineering projects on track
• Direct capital equipment projects from conception to execution, including vendor vetting, cost/ROI analysis, and advancements in CNC machining, fixtures, and cutting tools
• Collaborate with the design engineering team on project design conceptualization and development of specialized production fixtures and cutting tools

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; an Associate's degree will be considered with strong experience
• At least five years in a similar manufacturing engineering management role with a strong background in manufacturing/process engineering
• Experience working in metals environments such as stamping, machining, fabrication, etc.
• Strong continuous improvement background with proven examples of scrap reduction and efficiency improvements
• Experience overseeing direct reports
• Project management experience, including overseeing timelines and budgets
• Experience with product launches
• Strong mechanical aptitude, including the ability to read blueprints
• Microsoft Office

Preferred qualifications

• Automated work environments
• Lean/Six Sigma methodologies
• SolidWorks
• ERP experience
• CapEx management
• Automotive supplier experience

Compensation and benefits

• Competitive salary with annual bonus potential
• Medical benefits (including dental and vision) available after 90 days
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 401K
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Conservative relocation package available for regional candidates meeting requirements local to the St Joseph, MI area

Why this role

This is an opportunity to lead a stable, tenured engineering team of about 15 professionals averaging over eight years of service, working alongside a General Manager who has grown with the company for nearly 20 years, in a newly remodeled office space with cutting-edge technology and strong internal growth opportunities.