Manager, Injection Systems - Equipment & Process Performance

About the role

The Manager, Injection Systems Engineer provides enterprise-level technical leadership for injection molding machinery and system performance across RPSNAB. This role expands beyond traditional equipment support to include platform-level strategy, machine and tooling integration, and long-term technology direction.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the technical strategy for injection molding equipment and system architecture across the network.
• Establish machine platform standards, including controls, hydraulics/electric systems, auxiliaries, and integration requirements.
• Provide technical direction on future-state injection platform design, including scalability, flexibility, and lifecycle cost optimization.
• Serve as the primary authority on machine capability requirements influencing product and tooling decisions.
• Lead the development of mold–machine interface standards, ensuring alignment between tooling design and machine capability.
• Partner with Product Development and Tooling Engineering to define design guardrails that improve manufacturability and reduce downstream variability.
• Evaluate and influence tooling design decisions based on machine performance, clamp characteristics, and process capability.
• Drive improvements in system-level performance, addressing interactions between machine, mold, material, and auxiliaries.
• Lead enterprise-wide efforts to improve injection system performance, including cycle time, repeatability, and reliability.
• Establish frameworks for diagnosing and resolving chronic, multi-variable performance issues across plants.
• Define and standardize machine setup philosophies and performance expectations across platforms.
• Support critical plant issues requiring advanced technical expertise and system-level troubleshooting.
• Own the injection equipment lifecycle strategy, including obsolescence planning, modernization, and capital prioritization.
• Develop and maintain a fleet-level view of equipment performance, risk, and capability gaps.
• Lead evaluation of equipment retrofits, upgrades, and replacement strategies based on total cost of ownership and performance impact.
• Influence capital investment decisions through data-driven business cases and technical justification.
• Develop and implement enterprise standards for injection machinery, system configuration, and performance metrics.
• Lead creation of technical documentation, specifications, and best practices across the network.
• Drive adoption of standards through training, workshops, and plant engagement.
• Ensure consistency in machine setup, operation, and maintenance practices across facilities.
• Partner with Product Development, Tooling Engineering, and Operations to align product design, tooling, and manufacturing capability.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to engineering teams across the network.
• Operate as a key technical leader across a matrixed, multi-site organization.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or related technical field.
  • 10-15+ years of experience in injection molding machinery operation, process optimization, or equipment engineering within the plastics or packaging industry.
  • In-depth knowledge of injection machine systems (Husky experience preferred), controls, hydraulics, and auxiliary equipment.
  • Demonstrated experience in equipment strategy, platform standardization, or multi-site technical leadership.
  • Strong understanding of mold–machine interaction and its impact on product quality and process capability.
  • Proven ability to influence technical decisions across functions and sites without direct authority.
  • Strong collaboration skills; ability to work effectively across functions and with OEM partners.
  • Willingness to travel up to 50% to support plant assessments and supplier evaluations.