NPI Engineering Manager

Kitron Group; Windber (PA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

VTO

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

EAP

Life Insurance

Short-term Disability

Long-term Disability

401(k) with match

9/80 Schedule

Voluntary Benefits

Job summary

Kitron Group in Windber, PA, is seeking an NPI Engineering Manager to lead the New Product Introduction function, guiding products from concept through production. You will mentor engineers and technicians, coordinate across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain, and ensure launches meet quality, cost, and schedule targets.

You will drive process standardization, PFMEAs, and validation activities while supporting business development and customer programs. A U.S.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of progressive engineering experience in EMS manufacturing.
• 2-5+ years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Proven experience managing teams, departmental budgets, and capital projects.
• Strong knowledge of SMT, PCB Assembly, automation, and high-mix/low-volume manufacturing.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.
• Strong project management and customer-facing leadership experience.
• Valid U.S. Passport.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and NPI Technicians.
• Own the NPI process from quotation and design review through production release.
• Develop launch strategies and implementation plans for new customer programs.
• Lead cross-functional launch teams to ensure successful product introductions.
• Manage program risks and escalation activities throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensure manufacturing readiness, capacity planning, tooling availability, and process validation activities are completed on schedule.
• Oversee DFM reviews, manufacturing assessments, and process development initiatives.
• Drive process standardization and implementation of best practices across manufacturing operations.
• Lead efforts to optimize productivity, quality, throughput, and cost performance.
• Serve as the primary engineering contact for strategic customer NPI programs.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, audits, and business development activities.
• Support quoting activities by providing manufacturing, process, and labor assumptions.
• Communicate project status, risks, and mitigation plans to executive leadership and customers.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives throughout the NPI process.

Skills

EMS manufacturing

Leadership

Project management

Customer-facing leadership

Lean Six Sigma

SMT

PCB Assembly

Automation

Process improvement

Kaizen

Job description

About Us

For over 40 years, Kitron Group has been leading the way in manufacturing and assembly of electronics for daily use around the world. Our focus on the values of Commitment, Innovation, and Engagement has enabled us to become a leading global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company. Our U.S.-based facility, Kitron Technologies, is continuing to expand and add to our team.

Job Title:

NPI Engineering Manager

Location:

On-Site in Windber, PA

Type:

Salary Exempt

Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

About Us

For over 40 years, Kitron Group has been leading the way in manufacturing and assembly of electronics for daily use around the world. Our focus on the values of Commitment, Innovation, and Engagement has enabled us to become a leading global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company. Our U.S.-based facility, Kitron Technologies, is continuing to expand and add to our team.

Why Work for Us?

At Kitron, we have a team of highly-skilled and trained colleagues. Working for us means you get access to ongoing learning and development opportunities, as well as our industry-leading benefits offerings, such as:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee-Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company-paid life insurance, short term disability, and long term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• 9/80 work schedule
• Additional voluntary benefits

Hear from a Kitron Employee

Check out the link below to learn directly from one of Kitron's tenured employees about her experience working for the company.

Hint: She talks directly to candidates near the end of the video! Click here or copy and paste into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APZBCNRYpKg

About The Role

The NPI Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the New Product Introduction (NPI) function and managing the successful transition of new products from concept and prototype through full-scale production. This position provides strategic leadership for NPI activities, oversees a team of engineers and technicians, and serves as the primary technical liaison between customers, operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams. The NPI Engineering Manager ensures all new product launches meet customer requirements, quality expectations, cost targets, and production schedules.

Essential Job Duties/Functions

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop NPI Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and NPI Technicians.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance expectations.
• Conduct performance evaluations, coaching, and employee development planning.
• Allocate engineering resources to support customer programs and business priorities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

New Product Introduction Leadership

• Own the NPI process from quotation and design review through production release.
• Develop launch strategies and implementation plans for new customer programs.
• Lead cross-functional launch teams to ensure successful product introductions.
• Manage program risks and escalation activities throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensure manufacturing readiness, capacity planning, tooling availability, and process validation activities are completed on schedule.

Manufacturing & Process Strategy

• Oversee DFM reviews, manufacturing assessments, and process development initiatives.
• Drive process standardization and implementation of best practices across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure robust process controls, PFMEAs, control plans, and validation activities are established.
• Lead efforts to optimize productivity, quality, throughput, and cost performance.

Customer & Business Support

• Serve as the primary engineering contact for strategic customer NPI programs.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, audits, and business development activities.
• Support quoting activities by providing manufacturing, process, and labor assumptions.
• Communicate project status, risks, and mitigation plans to executive leadership and customers.

Continuous Improvement & Quality

• Lead initiatives focused on yield improvements, scrap reduction, cycle-time improvements, and cost savings.
• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future product launches.
• Support corrective and preventive action activities related to customer and manufacturing issues.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives throughout the NPI process.

Financial & Operational Management

• Develop departmental budgets and capital investment requests.
• Justify and implement equipment, software, tooling, and automation investments.
• Monitor engineering KPIs, project performance, and departmental resource utilization.
• Support strategic planning and long-term manufacturing capability development.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of progressive engineering experience in EMS manufacturing.
• 2-5+ years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Proven experience managing teams, departmental budgets, and capital projects.
• Strong knowledge of SMT, PCB Assembly, automation, and high-mix/low-volume manufacturing.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.
• Strong project management and customer-facing leadership experience.
• Valid U.S. Passport.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical working conditions at Kitron are indoors, safe, well lit, temperature controlled, low exposure to noxious fumes or offensive odors, clean and sanitary conditions with average light industrial noise. Production areas have machinery with moving parts. Static dissipative smock, and shoes are required. Offices with locking doors, meeting rooms, and common printing areas are well lit, clean, low noise, and temperature controlled with no exposure to noxious fumes or offensive odors.

Pre-Employment Requirements

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check and pre-employment drug screening. These screenings are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and help us maintain a safe and secure workplace.

Kitron is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). EEO policies cover all employees and employment programs, management practices and decisions to include recruiting, hiring, promotions, transfers, training and career development, benefits, and separation. All employees and applicants for employment shall be given fair treatment and equal employment opportunity regardless of their race, color, religion, age (40 and over), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or other prohibited non-merit factors.

Kitron Technologies is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Kitron will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at 814-467-9779.

The employee must be able to perform the essential job duties/functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.