NPI Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage New Product Introduction (NPI) activities from design release through pilot builds, production ramp-up, and mass production, ensuring adherence to defined timelines, quality standards, and cost targets
• Collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to develop, validate, and optimize manufacturing processes for new products
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between SSW, Japan-based customers, suppliers, and internal cross-functional teams, facilitating clear communication in Japanese and English
• Analyze product designs to ensure design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA), recommending and driving design changes to improve production efficiency, quality, and yield
• Create, maintain, and review detailed process documentation, including work instructions, process flow diagrams, routings, FMEAs, and control plans
• Plan, lead, and execute prototype builds, pilot builds, and production trials, identifying manufacturing risks and resolving issues prior to full-scale production
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure component readiness, quality compliance, and on-time delivery in support of new product launches
• Support supplier qualification and performance monitoring, including audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Monitor and analyze production metrics (yield, scrap, cycle time, cost, and throughput) and implement improvements to optimize performance and reduce cost
• Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective action activities for issues identified during the NPI phase and early production
• Partner with Quality Engineering to support PPAP, validation testing, SPC, and change management (ECO/ECN) activities
• Manage project schedules, assess risks, and communicate NPI status, issues, and mitigation plans to internal leadership and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and timely product introduction

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field)
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or new product introduction within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and product lifecycle management
• Proficiency with CAD software and manufacturing process simulation tools
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work cross-functionally in a team environment
• Bilingual in English and Japanese