NPI Engineering Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Life insurance and disability

Job summary

Kitron Technologies is seeking an NPI Engineering Manager for our U.S. facility in Windber, PA. Lead the NPI function, manage a team of engineers and technicians, and act as the primary technical liaison among customers, operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain.

Ensure launches meet requirements, targets, and schedules. You will drive Lean initiatives, optimize processes, and oversee budgets, capital projects, and manufacturing readiness to support high-mix/low-volume production.

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and NPI Technicians.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance expectations.
• Conduct performance evaluations and development planning.
• Allocate engineering resources to support customer programs and prioritize initiatives.
• Foster accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Own the NPI process from quotation to production release.
• Develop launch strategies and cross-functional teams for new programs.
• Manage risks and ensure readiness, capacity, and tooling availability.

Skills

EMS manufacturing

Engineering leadership

Budget management

Capital projects

SMT

PCB assembly

Automation

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Customer-facing leadership

Job description

Kitron is a leading Scandinavian Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company, delivering full range of services within the entire value chain of electronics production, including development and design, industrialization and manufacturing, as well as product upgrades and service/repairs. We operate in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, China, Malaysia, and the United States.

With about 3000 highly skilled employees, we manufacture and deliver anything from fully assembled electronic circuit boards to complete end products for customers globally.

If you're ready to explore limitless opportunities and help world-class customers succeed, become a part of our team.

Why work with us?

Kitron offers a positive, challenging, and inspiring working environment. All employees share our three fundamental corporate values: Commitment, Innovation, and Engagement.

As a part of our team, you will have the opportunity to continuously develop your skills in order to reach your full potential. A career with us means opportunities to grow in any direction, find new ways to innovate and develop your talents.

Workplace & culture

We believe the workplace should be an environment where everyone can contribute. Kitron Group operates in several countries around the world. Working with us means working internationally. As an employee, you have the opportunity to work with colleagues not only in different positions but from different cultures. It is our responsibility to create a secure and rewarding working environment for our employees on a long-term basis.

Values

COMMITMENT

At Kitron, we are committed to customers, suppliers, shareholders, colleagues, sustainability and the environment.

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)
• 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
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.