Job Description

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead our Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Tooling functions. This position will play a key role in improving manufacturing performance, developing processes and equipment, supporting new product launches, and building a strong technical team.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who enjoys solving problems, developing people, and creating sustainable improvements. This role works closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall manufacturing efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop teams across Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Tooling.

• Drive Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen, SMED, Kanban, Value Stream Mapping, and standard work.

• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including process development, equipment selection, validation, and production readiness.

• Develop robust, repeatable manufacturing processes that meet quality, safety, and production requirements.

• Improve equipment reliability, uptime, throughput, labor efficiency, and overall process capability.

• Establish and maintain effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

• Oversee tooling readiness, troubleshooting, maintenance, and improvement to support production and new product launches.

• Lead structured problem solving and root-cause analysis to address recurring safety, quality, equipment, and production issues.

• Partner with Production and Quality to identify improvement opportunities and prioritize projects based on data and business impact.

• Support capital projects, equipment installations, automation, and process improvements.

• Establish clear expectations and accountability while developing technical and leadership capabilities within the team.

• Promote a culture focused on ownership, continuous improvement, teamwork, and solving problems rather than people.

• Maintain manufacturing, maintenance, and tooling information within IQMS/ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field with 5+ years of relevant manufacturing experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience leading technical teams and cross-functional projects.

• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Value Stream Mapping, and root-cause problem solving.

• Experience with manufacturing equipment, automation, tooling, and process development.

• Experience with plastics, silicone, rubber molding, or medical device manufacturing is strongly preferred.

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects to completion in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Proficiency with CAD, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a leader who can balance technical expertise with people leadership. The successful candidate will be comfortable working on the manufacturing g floor, solving problems with the team, developing engineers and technicians, and building systems that create long-term improvements in safety, quality, efficiency, and reliability.

Resumes can be sent confidentially to Thane Meiners with gpac.

Email: thane.meiners@gogpac.com

Phone: (507) 512-3068  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.