Plant Engineering Manager

AUTOKINITON; Elkton (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

AUTOKINITON, a Michigan-based automotive company, is seeking a Plant Engineering leader to drive process development, documentation, and staff growth for stamping and welding operations.

Lead lean transformations, mentor a diverse engineering team, and coordinate launches with Corporate Sales and Engineering. The role demands strong decision-making, collaboration, and a focus on safety and quality in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering leadership in automotive stamping and welding.
• Ability to prioritize and make timely decisions.
• Collaborative leadership style to foster teamwork.
• Lead continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and capital projects with deadlines.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Teams and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead Plant Engineering Staff to develop processes, specifications, and documentation.
• Mentor engineering staff to increase capabilities for manufacturing needs.
• Coordinate as Technical Liaison between Corporate Sales and Corporate Engineering during launches.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple engineering projects and deadlines.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen to improve safety, quality, productivity, and delivery metrics.
• Ensure cross-functional teams collaborate within approved budgets.
• Lead CI initiatives and maintain lean processes and launch checklists.
• Recommend improvements to production processes, methods, and controls.
• Promote Safety First within the team and participate in safety programs.
• Direct reports include Welding Eng, Controls Eng, Die Eng, Industrial Eng, and Eng Supervisor; reports to Plant Manager.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Capital projects

ERP software

MS Teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

ERP software

MS Teams

Job description

AUTOKINITON is a Michigan-based automotive company delivering operational excellence, high-quality execution, and customer service. We offer 100% vertical integration capabilities such as end-to-end engineering, manufacturing, and in-house logistics. We’re proud of our Tier 1 supplier legacy for manufacturing propulsion-agnostic, structural automotive components, and assemblies around the globe. Domestic Relocation Available.

To help us drive excellence, you’ll get to:

• Manage and lead the Plant Engineering Staff in developing processes, specifications, and documentation. Provide the staff with short/long-term goals and strategic direction.
• Develop and mentor Engineering Staff to increase the technical capabilities for servicing manufacturing needs.
• Technical Liaison between Corporate Sales and Corporate Engineering during launches.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple engineering projects; prioritize tasks, ensure that the overall resources are used effectively and that project deadlines are met.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen concepts to devise innovative solutions to existing manufacturing problems while improving Safety, Quality, Productivity, Financial and Delivery metrics.
• Ensure the Engineering Team and cross-functional teams work cohesively, and goals are met and adhere to approved budgets.
• Lead CI initiatives and processes including the development, coordination, implementation, and maintenance of processes through lean manufacturing methodologies.
• Recommend and implement improvements to production processes, methods, and controls.
• Enhances gate deliverable structure and launch checklist with support from Plant Management Team.
• Actively participate in the safety program and promote a culture of Safety First.
• This role has direct reports (Welding Engineer, Controls Engineers, Die Engineers, Industrial Engineer, and Engineering Supervisor), and reports to the Plant Manager.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field; or Sr. Manufacturing Engineer with increased levels of responsibilities in automotive manufacturing environment.
• 5+years as Manufacturing Engineering leadership role within a fast-paced automotive metal stamping and welding assembly robotic manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and make timely decisions.
• Exhibit leadership style that encourages a collaborative work environment.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, lean manufacturing, and capital improvement projects and meeting deadlines for product launches.
• Proven vision and ability to translate progress
• Excellent organization, analytical and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Teams and ERP software systems.