Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

POSITION SUMMARY The Senior Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for leading manufacturing capacity analysis and capital equipment initiatives across multiple products and locations. The role provides technical and analytical expertise to identify capacity needs, develop capital recommendations, and execute approved investments to support customer demand, operational performance, and cost objectives. This role supports manufacturing footprint optimization efforts and continuous improvement initiatives while partnering closely with plant teams, suppliers, and cross‑functional stakeholders. The position reports to the Vice President of Operations & Supply Chain. Ideally, this role will be located in Lancaster, Texas, but other locations will be considered with preference for Novi, MI or Thomasville, NC. PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Capacity Analysis & Capital Planning Analyze manufacturing capacity across multiple sites to identify gaps and constraints Develop and support capital equipment recommendations, including technical requirements and cost analysis Lead RFQ development and supplier evaluations for equipment and services Support capex business cases, justification, and approval documentation Capex Development & Execution Develop and support capital investment recommendations, including supplier quotes and cost analysis Prepare business justifications and required documentation for capex approvals Lead submission, tracking, and administration of capex requests through required systems Procure equipment and services per approved capex scope, including supplier negotiation Manage supplier timelines to ensure cost, schedule, and technical requirements are met Equipment Deployment & Readiness Determine infrastructure and site requirements to support new equipment or processes Partner with plant teams to ensure readiness for new equipment and process changes Coordinate supplier runoffs, validation activities, and production ramp‑up support Identify infrastructure and layout needs to support new equipment or processes Manufacturing Performance, Quality, & Subject Matter Expertise (SME) Support continuous improvement initiatives tied to equipment performance, cost, and reliability Research, develop, and deploy Manufacturing Strategies with industry‑leading and/or optimized process innovation to deliver targeted product costs and support growth Support quality validation activities including PFMEA, control plans, safe launch, and audit requirements Establish initial equipment and process performance tracking systems, including targets for OEE, downtime, FPY, and preventive maintenance General Manufacturing Engineering Support Spend a portion of time supporting broader manufacturing engineering activities, including problem‑solving, data analysis, and process improvement efforts Serve as a technical partner to manufacturing sites, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance Provide hands‑on support at plant sites as needed to execute projects and resolve issues Partner with cross‑functional teams to support new products, volume growth, and operational changes MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering, or related field 7-10 years of experience in a mixed model manufacturing or operations environment Strong experience with capital equipment planning, procurement, and deployment Solid understanding of project management, manufacturing processes, and quality management systems Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex data and develop clear recommendations Detail‑oriented with strong communication and collaboration skills Willingness to travel approximately 50-60%, as needed PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience supporting manufacturing operations across multiple sites or product lines Process development and improvement of fast‑paced, high‑volume metal cutting, metal finishing, and automated assembly operations Prior exposure to manufacturing footprint analysis or capacity modeling Experience supporting standard costing, routing accuracy, or Bill of Materials (BOM) reviews Demonstrated application of CI methodologies (Lean, Value Stream Mapping, Six Sigma), including one by one flow, Total Productive Maintenance, quick changeover, and standard work creation in a manufacturing environment to deliver significant business performance improvement Experience partnering with Finance / FP&A on capex justification or cost analysis Proficiency with manufacturing systems and tools (e.g., Enterprise Resource Planning, capex approval platforms, data visualization tools) Hands‑on experience with equipment validation, runoffs, and production ramp‑up Demonstrated ability to work independently in ambiguous or evolving environments COMPETENCIES Strong manufacturing engineering knowledge with hands‑on experience in equipment, processes, and capacity analysis Proven ability to execute capital projects from concept through installation and validation Solid analytical and problem‑solving skills, including cost and capacity modeling Working knowledge of quality and validation processes to ensure production readiness Effective cross‑functional collaborator able to influence without direct authority Clear communicator with strong ownership, follow‑through, and continuous improvement mindset Hiring Range: $88,700-$140,000 USD Actual compensation may vary based on various factors including experience, education, geographic location, and/or skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr