Manufacturing Engineering Manager

About the role

Model/Z is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining all manufacturing processes in a fast-paced, state-of-the-art production environment. This role combines strategic operations leadership with hands-on manufacturing engineering expertise to ensure scalable production, high product quality, and continuous cost and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of manufacturing engineers, technicians, and production support personnel.
• Allocate resources effectively, including labor, equipment and project priorities.
• Define long-term and short-term departmental goals and align manufacturing engineering strategies with overall business objectives.
• Drive operational excellence through standardization, workflow optimization, and implementation of best practices.
• Oversee creation, validation, and continuous improvements of manufacturing processes to ensure scalability, efficiency, and quality.
• Lead process validation exercises, including cycle times studies, labor requirements, tooling needs, and work instructions development.
• Manage and optimize factory layout, resource utilization, and production flow.
• Develop comprehensive work instructions, process documentation, routings, and workflows in MES systems.
• Oversee design and implementation of tooling, jigs, and fixtures to improve throughput and quality.
• Lead time studies, data analysis, and process capability evaluations to establish standards and improve productivity.
• Drive first builds, prototyping efforts, and MBOM development for new assemblies or products.
• Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives that reduce costs, enhance safety, and increase operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate manufacturing documentation, including SOPs, process flowcharts, equipment specifications, and test methods.
• Work closely with Product Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to ensure manufacturability, quality, and successful product launches.
• Support shop-floor teams through responsive problem-solving and root cause analysis.
• Lead operating reviews and manage ramp-up readiness for new manufacturing setups.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field required.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, including 2+ years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong background in manufacturing engineering, process development, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Experience with GD&T, CAD modeling (SolidWORKS, Inventor, AutoCAD), and manufacturing execution systems preferred.

Education & Experience

Essential Duties:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of manufacturing engineers, technicians, and production support personnel.
• Allocate resources effectively, including labor, equipment and project priorities.
• Define long-term and short-term departmental goals and align manufacturing engineering strategies with overall business objectives.
• Drive operational excellence through standardization, workflow optimization, and implementation of best practices.
• Oversee creation, validation, and continuous improvements of manufacturing processes to ensure scalability, efficiency, and quality.
• Lead process validation exercises, including cycle times studies, labor requirements, tooling needs, and work instructions development.
• Manage and optimize factory layout, resource utilization, and production flow.
• Develop comprehensive work instructions, process documentation, routings, and workflows in MES systems.
• Oversee design and implementation of tooling, jigs, and fixtures to improve throughput and quality.
• Lead time studies, data analysis, and process capability evaluations to establish standards and improve productivity.
• Drive first builds, prototyping efforts, and MBOM development for new assemblies or products.
• Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives that reduce costs, enhance safety, and increase operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate manufacturing documentation, including SOPs, process flowcharts, equipment specifications, and test methods.
• Work closely with Product Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to ensure manufacturability, quality, and successful product launches.
• Support shop-floor teams through responsive problem-solving and root cause analysis.
• Lead operating reviews and manage ramp-up readiness for new manufacturing setups.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, automation, quality control, and Lean principles.
• Ability to define and build processes from the ground up, including documentation and training.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment.
• Ability to present information in a concise and easily understood manner.

Benefits

Model/Z offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as pet insurance, sick leave, 10 paid holidays, and bereavement days. This package is designed to provide employees with a range of important benefits that help to support their physical and emotional well-being, while also providing financial protection and peace of mind.

Pay

$90K-$130K

Schedule

9-10 Hour Workdays, 4 days a week (Monday - Thursday), with occasional remote. Friday meetings if needed. 3-4 days per week in person. The schedule is subject to change to an 8-hour, 5-day workweek in the future.