Engineering Manager

Heraeus is a family-owned global technology group that helps customers stay ahead through innovative materials and solutions. Heraeus Covantics, a leading materials specialist, produces high-purity quartz glass, ceramics, and composites for industries including telecommunications, specialty fibers, semiconductor manufacturing, and optics. With over 2,000 employees worldwide, we offer an innovation-driven work environment, global collaboration, and opportunities to contribute to social and environmental responsibility.

About the role

The Engineering Manager leads all engineering, automation, process improvement, equipment reliability, and capital project activities within a ceramic manufacturing facility. This role provides strategic and technical leadership to drive operational excellence, manufacturing technology advancement, and new product introduction while ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations. The Engineering Manager partners with Operations, Quality, R&D, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to improve manufacturing performance, optimize processes, and support long-term business growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of process, manufacturing, and project engineers.
• Develop, implement, and optimize ceramic manufacturing processes including powder preparation, sintering, grinding, CNC, and polishing.
• Oversee manufacturing readiness, process validation, and scale-up of new designs from R&D to production.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Lead technical evaluations and process development projects in collaboration with R&D, Quality, and Operations teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield enhancement, scrap reduction, throughput improvement, cycle time reduction, and cost optimization.
• Manage departmental operating budgets and CAPEX planning, justification, and execution for new equipment and infrastructure.
• Drive equipment reliability and asset utilization through preventive maintenance strategies, OEE improvement, and root cause analysis.
• Identify and implement automation, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 technologies to improve operational performance.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements while fostering a culture of operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline required; Master's degree preferred.
• 5-10 years of manufacturing engineering experience with at least 3-5 years in a formal engineering leadership role within advanced ceramics, semiconductor materials, or related manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and driving organizational performance.
• Experience with process development, manufacturing scale-up, qualification, and technology transfer.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis and manufacturing improvement tools such as Minitab, JMP, or equivalent.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, DMAIC, or equivalent continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong project management experience, including CAPEX planning, equipment procurement, installation, and startup.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders without direct authority.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information to customers, leadership, and non-technical audiences.
• Strong knowledge of safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements within a manufacturing environment.