NPI Project Engineer

Sanmina Corporation; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Education reimbursement

Bonuses or relocation

Job summary

Sanmina Corporation in Houston, TX, seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to support NPI, NPD, and sustaining production while transferring designs to manufacturing. You will interface with customers and cross-functional teams to ensure timelines and quality meet expectations.

You will lead process mapping, fixture design, and supplier engagement, driving continuous improvement and rigorous documentation of KPIs across product lines and facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Manufacturing) preferred.
• 8+ years of related manufacturing/industrial engineering experience in EMS or electro-mechanical environments.
• Experience with high-precision manufacturing, micro-features, and prototyping.
• Ability to design and improve integrated systems across people, materials, information, equipment, and cost.
• Know-how in cost reduction and VAVE initiatives; travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations and stakeholders in NPI core teams across manufacturing, procurement, planning, and logistics.
• Translate complex design requirements into manufacturable processes with R&D.
• Provide DFM/DFA feedback based on prototypes and validation.
• Plan IQ/OQ/PQ protocols and validate new designs and fixtures.
• Create process flowcharts, PFMEAs, and control plans.
• Conceptualize and develop assembly/test fixtures for complex electro-mechanical sub-assemblies.
• Engage suppliers to ensure successful product launches and quality.
• Train manufacturing personnel and support knowledge transfer at sites.
• Troubleshoot mechanical components, motors, PCBA, and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement CAPA actions.
• Drive continuous improvement via Lean/Kaizen events.
• Document processes and track KPIs for product lines.
• Collaborate daily with production, procurement, quality, and logistics teams.

Skills

High-precision manufacturing

CAD software

Project management

Excel/Office

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

Description Sanmina Corporation (Nasdaq: SANM) is a global powerhouse in integrated manufacturing solutions serving the fastest growing segments of the global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) market. We are a global engine providing the end-to-end manufacturing backbone for the world's most essential and innovative brands. Whether it's autonomous vehicles, life-saving medical tech, next-gen aerospace, or AI/cloud infrastructure - our integrated solutions don’t just meet standards—they redefine them.

Description Sanmina Corporation (Nasdaq: SANM) is a global powerhouse in integrated manufacturing solutions serving the fastest growing segments of the global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) market. We are a global engine providing the end-to-end manufacturing backbone for the world's most essential and innovative brands. Whether it's autonomous vehicles, life-saving medical tech, next-gen aerospace, or AI/cloud infrastructure - our integrated solutions don’t just meet standards—they redefine them.

What You'll Do

We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support New Product Introduction (NPI), New Product Development (NPD), and Sustaining Production, as well as the transfer of released designs to production. In this role, you will serve as the primary technical interface with customers and internal cross-functional teams (R&D, Program Management, Quality). You will provide technical project leadership to ensure timelines and customer expectations are met.

• Operations Project Lead: Represent manufacturing, procurement, planning, and logistics in NPI core team meetings.
• Design Translation: Interface with R&D to effectively translate complex design requirements into highly manufacturable processes.
• DFM/DFA Feedback: Provide robust Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) feedback based on early prototype builds.
• Qualifications & Validation: Conduct IQ/OQ/PQ protocols; oversee verification and validation of new designs, modified processes, and assembly/test fixtures.
• Process Mapping: Develop process flowcharts, PFMEAs, and Process Control Plans.
• Fixture Design: Conceptualize, design, and develop assembly and test fixtures for complex electro-mechanical sub-assemblies.
• Supplier Engagement: Interface with critical suppliers and review their processes to ensure a seamless product launch.
• Training & Knowledge Transfer: Communicate process changes to manufacturing personnel and ensure training requirements are met. May travel to internal sites/suppliers to support knowledge transfer.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues with mechanical components (cast, machined, molded, sheet metal), motors, cable harnesses, PCBAs, and complex electro-mechanical sub-assemblies.
• Root Cause Analysis: Perform thorough root cause analysis and implement corrective/preventative actions (CAPA) to address manufacturing discrepancies.
• Continuous Improvement: Practice Lean Manufacturing techniques and facilitate Lean/Kaizen events to optimize efficiency, throughput, and product quality.
• Documentation & Metrics: Maintain rigorous process documentation and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for assigned product lines.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with production supervisors, procurement, quality engineering, and logistics to resolve daily floor issues and supplier quality defects.

What You'll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering preferred).
• Experience: 8+ years of related manufacturing and industrial engineering experience, preferably within an EMS or electro-mechanical environment.
• Technical Precision: Experience dealing with high-precision manufacturing, micro-features, or intricate electro-mechanical prototyping.
• Systems Design: Proven ability to design, implement, and improve integrated systems encompassing people, materials, information, equipment, and cost.
• Financial Acumen: Knowledge of product costing with a proven track record of identifying cost-reduction opportunities (VAVE).
• Travel: Ability to travel up to 20%.
• CAD/Layout Software: Intermediate to advanced proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) for plant layouts, fixture design, and process flow mapping.
• Project Management: Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Project and data management software.
• Office Suite: High proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Why Join Us?

Sanmina employees also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Sanmina, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

Sanmina is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment. Sanmina provides equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Please be aware that this position may require access to technology, software, or technical data that is subject to U.S. export control laws. All offers of employment are contingent on the applicant either 1) being a "U.S. Person," defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, or (iii) other protected individual, such as a refugee under 8 U.S.C.

• 1157 or asylee under 8 U.S.C.
• 1158; or 2) being eligible to obtain a timely export control license or license exception from the applicable U.S. federal agency.