Engineering Manager (Manufacturing)

This Jobot Job is hosted by: Chelsea Piekarski

About us

We design and build custom fixtures for nationally recognized consumer, retail, and home brands. Founded decades ago, we've grown into a full-service partner that handles design, engineering, CNC and millwork manufacturing, domestic and international sourcing, fulfillment, and installation under one roof, out of 300,000+ square feet in Minnesota. Our project-based work requires close coordination among design, engineering, project management, sourcing, and production to turn creative concepts into accurate, buildable solutions. We're privately held, deliberately humble, and in the middle of the most intentional growth period in our history.

Why join us?

• We're tracking roughly 70% year-over-year revenue growth, and it's the result of sustained investment in our people, process, and capabilities
• You'll lead a growing engineering team with direct executive support and real decision-making authority
• Our engineering team is growing, and this role shapes how it scales
• Your work is visible. Walk into a store you designed the fixtures for and see it live, in market, at scale
• Privately held and fiscally conservative, with a leadership team that makes decisions in the room rather than through six layers of approval
• Bonus eligibility at 2x the company profit share, plus a competitive benefits package, PTO and holidays, 401k match, and tuition reimbursement
• Boots-on-the-ground culture. We hire for humility, creativity, and initiative over titles and pedigree

Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, support, and develop a team of design drafting engineers and a CNC programmer
• Set clear responsibilities, priorities, and performance expectations for the team
• Provide coaching, feedback, and technical guidance while supporting accountability and professional growth
• Bring team members into the shop and fulfillment areas so they understand how engineering decisions affect fabrication, assembly, packing, and installation
• Promote our values of creativity, humility, positivity, integrity, flexibility, and initiative

Engineering Operations

• Plan and prioritize engineering work based on project schedules, production needs, and available capacity
• Manage current and forecasted department workload and communicate resource or scheduling needs early
• Review engineering drawings for accuracy, completeness, manufacturability, and alignment with project requirements
• Maintain and advance drawing standards, documentation practices, and file-management processes
• Manage engineering timelines and partner with key stakeholders to keep projects on schedule
• Ensure engineering output supports purchasing, domestic and international sourcing, CNC programming, manufacturing, and fulfillment needs

Technical and Process Improvement

• Apply value-engineering principles to reduce cost and improve manufacturability without compromising function or quality
• Shape engineering workflows, drawing quality, and handoffs between departments
• Support and lead effective use and integration of CAD/PDM, ERP/MRP, CNC programming, and nesting tools
• Standardize repeatable work and streamline production steps

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with design, project management, estimating, sourcing, sales, and production throughout the project lifecycle
• Engage early on project requirements and technical questions ahead of purchasing and production
• Communicate engineering decisions, risks, changes, and timing clearly to internal stakeholders
• Support successful project rollouts by aligning engineering work with client requirements and production capabilities

Requirements

• Degree in engineering, drafting, design, mechanical engineering, or a related field; bachelor's preferred
• At least three years leading or supervising a technical team
• At least three years creating or overseeing engineering drawings for store fixtures, cabinetry, millwork, metal fabrication, trade show exhibits, or similar custom products
• SolidWorks experience preferred

Skills

• Working knowledge of wood, engineered wood products, acrylic, metal, hardware, and other materials used in custom fabrication
• Ability to read, review, and provide direction on engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to balance multiple projects, changing priorities, and tight deadlines
• Practical problem-solving skills and a strong understanding of how design and engineering decisions affect production
• Experience building or advancing engineering standards, workflows, or systems

Benefits

• Bonus eligibility at 2x the company profit share
• Competitive benefits package
• PTO and holidays
• 401k match
• Tuition reimbursement

Pay

$100,000 - $150,000 per year