Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Cognex Corporation; Natick (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognex Corporation in Natick, Massachusetts, is looking for a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead initiatives enhancing efficiency and quality in manufacturing processes. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 10-15 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include guiding small project teams, resolving quality issues, and applying manufacturing expertise to improve production outcomes. The position emphasizes collaboration across engineering and supplier networks, leveraging advanced manufacturing processes and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of experience in manufacturing engineering or a similar role.
• Experience with high-tech, electronics, or electro-mechanical products.
• Hands-on experience in mechanical and PCB manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to improve cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Execute manufacturing experiments for high-volume production.
• Investigate and resolve quality issues.

Skills

Advanced manufacturing processes

Mechanical manufacturing

Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA)

CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred)

AI and automation tools

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Quality analysis

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

About us

Cognex is a global company that provides machine vision and ID systems using advanced optics, image sensors, and AI software.

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

The Team

The Operations Engineering organization at Cognex is responsible for delivering world‑class cost, quality, and delivery performance to customers globally. We partner closely with product design teams and supply chain to develop and support innovative machine vision products throughout their lifecycle.

This role is part of the Sustaining Engineering team within Operations Engineering. The team focuses on maintaining and improving mass‑produced products by driving manufacturability improvements, cost reductions, quality enhancements, and supply‑chain resiliency across global manufacturing partners.

The Role

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer is a senior technical contributor who leads complex manufacturing initiatives and small project teams to improve efficiency, quality, and cost across Cognex’s production portfolio. This role supports mass‑production products and supplier processes while influencing product design, manufacturing strategy, and operational decision‑making. Operating with broad direction, this engineer applies manufacturing expertise to lead execution of solutions to complex, cross‑functional problems and drive measurable business impact through capability improvements, cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Lead manufacturing‑focused initiatives that improve cost, quality, delivery, and manufacturability across mass‑production products
• Lead and execute structured prototyping and manufacturing experiments to evaluate design, process, and material changes, and successfully transfer validated solutions into high‑volume mass production environments
• Serve as a technical leader for small functional teams, guiding others through complex manufacturing and quality challenges
• Influence materials selection and product designs to achieve an optimal balance of performance, cost, risk, and manufacturability
• Investigate and resolve complex quality issues using structured problem‑solving methodologies, drive corrective and preventive actions across suppliers and internal teams
• Analyze production and quality data, identify systemic issues, and lead initiatives that deliver sustainable efficiency and yield improvements
• Apply strong understanding of supplier capabilities and limitations to influence design decisions, sourcing strategies, and cost‑reduction opportunities
• Support and improve assembly, test, and inspection processes, including fixture design and process optimization

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with advanced manufacturing processes, applied to improving quality, scalability, and cost
• Hands‑on experience in mechanical and/or PCB manufacturing, with optics manufacturing knowledge a plus
• Strong background in Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA), including die castings, injection molding, cable assemblies, surface treatments, and precision electromechanical assemblies
• Experience with should‑cost modeling, cost breakdowns, and supplier cost analysis is strongly preferred
• Proficient in CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to use AI, automation, or data‑driven tools to improve engineering efficiency, with a willingness to mentor others
• Proven ability to plan and execute projects based on KPIs or department strategies, recommending appropriate resources and managing risk
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to make data‑driven decisions that balance technical and business needs
• Excellent communicator, capable of working directly with global suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal design teams, including participation in off‑hours meetings when required
• Experience acting as a technical project leader, coordinating and influencing small teams without direct authority
• Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects and delivering results against challenging goals
• Experience with engineering documentation, change control, and formal qualification processes

Minimum Education and Work Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent discipline
• 10‑15 years of experience supporting high‑tech, electronics, or electro‑mechanical products in manufacturing engineering or a similar role

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.