Operations and Engineering Manager

AgUpdate; Lebanon (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

IBC Metal Technology of Indiana, LLC (MTI) is an industrial solutions provider focused on thermal spray coatings, component repair, and performance engineering. We partner with manufacturers to extend equipment life and improve performance.

MTI offers medical, vision, and dental insurance, paid time off, and retirement savings options for full-time staff. We are seeking a seasoned Production/Engineering Lead to drive daily planning, coordinate capacity, and lead process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering or related field preferred.
• Five years of direct thermal spray experience.
• Experience supervising production employees and managing production priorities.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot processes.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specs including tolerances and coatings.

Responsibilities

• Lead MTI production and engineering activities by setting priorities and schedules.
• Coordinate daily production planning and meetings to align with customer requirements.
• Perform engineering tasks: process development, troubleshooting, maintenance planning and improvements.
• Review RFQs and specifications, develop coating/repair plans, estimate costs, and prepare quotations.
• Assist in new product/process development and maintain work instructions/ERP routings.
• Coordinate purchasing for production-related needs and vendor follow-up.
• Supervise production personnel, provide training, and conduct performance reviews.
• Monitor production performance, costs, scrap, and on-time delivery; implement efficiency improvements.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, OSHA regulations, and company policies.
• Communicate regularly with leadership regarding operational performance and improvement opportunities.
• Complete additional tasks as assigned by leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Coaching/training

Problem solving

Customer requirements

Process development

Equipment maintenance

Quality systems

Coating processes

CAD (SolidWorks)

ERP systems

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/materials/engineering tech

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

IBC Metal Technology of Indiana, LLC (MTI) is an industrial solutions provider specializing in advanced Thermal Spray Coatings, Component Repair, and Performance Engineering. We partner with manufacturers to extend the life of critical equipment, improve performance, and solve challenges related to wear, corrosion, and durability.

Our capabilities include a wide range of Thermal Spray ( Plasma, HVOF, Arc, Flame), Laser Cladding and other performance coating technologies, supported by in-house metallurgical expertise to ensure solutions meet demanding specifications. From restoring worn components to enhancing new parts, our work helps customers reduce downtime and improve reliability across a variety of industries.

To learn more about our company, please visit our website: www.metaltechcoatings.com , www.ibccoatings.com , www.ibcmaterials.com . MTI is an equal opportunity employer. Full-time employees qualify for additional benefits like medical, vision, and dental insurance, paid time off (i.e. vacation), and retirement savings options.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• 1. Provide leadership to MTI production and engineering activities by establishing priorities, schedules, and performance expectations.
• 2. Lead daily production planning and meetings to communicate job priorities, production schedules, and customer requirements; coordinate capacity and resources to meet delivery commitments.
• 3. Perform engineering tasks as needed, including process development, equipment troubleshooting, fixture design, technical problem-solving, and continuous improvement. Coordinate preventive maintenance to support equipment reliability.
• 4. Review customer RFQs, drawings, and specifications; develop coating and component repair plans, estimate costs, prepare quotations, and provide technical support to customers. Coordinate the complete repair sequence, including pre-machining, surface preparation, coating, final machining or precision grinding, and inspection.
• 5. Assist in new product and process development, including tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing methods. Develop and maintain work instructions, process parameter records, and ERP job routings. Coordinate with other IBC Group engineering personnel as needed.
• 6. Coordinate purchasing for production-related needs, including materials, outside services, equipment, and vendor follow-up.
• 7. Supervise production personnel, provide training and technical guidance, conduct performance reviews, and address personnel issues as needed. Develop cross-training to strengthen team capabilities and production coverage.
• 8. Monitor production performance, job costs, labor utilization, scrap, rework, quality, and on-time delivery; implement improvements to increase operational efficiency and profitability.
• 9. Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, OSHA regulations, and company policies and procedures.
• 10. Communicate regularly with IBC Group leadership regarding operational performance, customer requirements, staffing, equipment needs, and opportunities for improvement.
• 11. Complete additional tasks or projects as assigned by company leadership.

• 1. Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, engineering technology, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent relevant manufacturing experience considered.
• 2. Minimum five years of direct thermal spray experience.
• 3. Demonstrated experience supervising production employees and managing production priorities is required, including staff training, performance management, and meeting delivery commitments.
• 4. Strong mechanical aptitude and demonstrated ability to develop and troubleshoot manufacturing processes.
• 5. Ability to interpret engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, specifications, and customer requirements, including machining allowances and final finishing requirements for coated components.
• 6. Experience with manufacturing cost estimating, quoting, and production planning preferred.
• 7. Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• 8. Demonstrated hands‑on expertise in at least one major thermal spray process, such as plasma spray, HVOF, flame spray, or twin‑wire arc spray, is required. Experience with multiple thermal spray processes is preferred.
• 9. Ability to develop, evaluate, and troubleshoot coating processes, including selecting appropriate materials, equipment, and processing parameters, and interpreting coating inspection or test results to meet customer requirements.
• 10. Experience with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software preferred.
• 11. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and experience using ERP systems for manufacturing documentation or production planning.
• 12. Only applicants currently legally authorized to work in the United States will be considered. Candidates must also meet applicable export‑control requirements.
• 13. Employment is conditional upon satisfactory background and drug screening.