Senior Manufacturing Engineering Lead – High-Tech Ops

Hitachi; McMinnville (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Physics Technologies in Oregon is seeking a hands-on Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead a team of engineers and technicians supporting production of high-tech components used in electron microscopes, x-ray tubes, additive manufacturing systems, lithography tools, and metrology tools.

The successful candidate will oversee daily production support, drive process and cost improvements, implement new technologies, ensure quality compliance, and collaborate with suppliers and R&D.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or related Engineering field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high-tech, precision, or regulated industries.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineers and/or technicians.
• Strong background in process development, equipment qualification, and manufacturing problem solving.
• Working knowledge of quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100, or equivalent).
• Experience with root cause analysis tools (8D, FMEA, 5-Why, Fishbone).
• Demonstrated success in continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 7 manufacturing engineers and technicians.
• Prioritize and balance workloads across production support, quality, and supplier‑related activities.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
• Ensure smooth daily manufacturing operations by addressing technical issues, bottlenecks, and urgent challenges.
• Drive process improvements to improve yield, throughput, and efficiency.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through process optimization, waste reduction, and improved resource utilization.
• Oversee implementation, qualification, and validation of new manufacturing equipment.
• Manage preventive maintenance and calibration programs for critical production tools.
• Provide oversight for non‑conformances (NCs), material deviation notices (MDNs), RMAs, and CAPAs.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality systems and external regulatory requirements.
• Lead initiatives in continuous improvement and root cause analysis.
• Maintain and update process documentation, work instructions, and control plans.
• Support incoming inspection and ensure supplier-provided components meet specifications.
• Partner with Supply Chain to evaluate and qualify new suppliers from a technical standpoint.
• Manage supplier process validations and first article inspections.
• Collaborate with purchasing and suppliers to resolve technical issues and ensure long‑term supplier capability.
• Collaborate with R&D and product engineering to transition NPIs into manufacturing.
• Develop and validate manufacturing processes for NPIs to ensure scalability, quality, and cost‑effectiveness.

Skills

Leadership

Process Development

Equipment Qualification

Root Cause Analysis

Lean Six Sigma

Kaizen

High Voltage

Electron Microscopy

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Materials Engineering

Master’s degree a plus

Tools

ISO quality systems (ISO 9001/13485/AS9100)

Job description

Applied Physics Technologies in Oregon is seeking a hands-on Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead a team of engineers and technicians supporting production of high-tech components used in electron microscopes, x-ray tubes, additive manufacturing systems, lithography tools, and metrology tools.

The successful candidate will oversee daily production support, drive process and cost improvements, implement new technologies, ensure quality compliance, and collaborate with suppliers and R&D.