Engineering Manager

The Engineering Manager leads and supports manufacturing-focused engineering activities in a defense and aerospace environment. This role is highly hands‑on and responsible for ensuring designs are producible, compliant, and efficiently transitioned from engineering to production. The Engineering Manager fosters an ownership mindset aligned with the company’s employee‑owned culture and works closely with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to support safe, compliant, and profitable manufacturing. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Ownership Culture Lead, mentor, and develop a small to mid‑size team of engineers and technical staff. Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement consistent with an employee‑owned culture. Set priorities, assign work, and ensure engineering resources support production and program commitments. Participate in hiring, performance management, and professional development of engineering staff. Manufacturing & Production Support Provide day‑to‑day engineering support to manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost goals. Ensure designs, routings, and work instructions are clear, accurate, and production‑ready. Support first article inspections (FAI) and production readiness reviews. Partner with Manufacturing to improve producibility, yields, and labor efficiency. Technical Oversight & Change Management Review and approve engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of material. Lead engineering change activities (ECN), ensuring proper configuration control and communication. Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for production issues and nonconformances. Evaluate and approve deviations, waivers, and rework dispositions as applicable. Compliance & Quality Ensure compliance with AS9100/ISO 9001, customer requirements, and applicable military or aerospace standards. Support internal and external audits, including customer and regulatory audits. Ensure proper documentation, record retention, and traceability in a regulated manufacturing environment. Collaborate with Quality on corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to support production schedules. Provide technical guidance to suppliers and support supplier quality initiatives. Interface with customers and government representatives on manufacturing‑related technical matters. Support proposal reviews and make/buy decisions from a manufacturing perspective. Drive process improvements in engineering and manufacturing workflows. Encourage practical problem‑solving and standardized engineering practices. Support lean manufacturing and cost‑reduction initiatives while maintaining compliance. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related discipline). 6–10 years of engineering experience in defense or aerospace manufacturing. 2–5 years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production support in a regulated environment. Experience with configuration management and engineering change control. Ability to work effectively in a non‑union, team‑based manufacturing environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience in an employee‑owned or entrepreneurial manufacturing company. Familiarity with AS9100, FAI (AS9102), and customer‑specific requirements. Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience. Hands‑on, solution‑oriented leadership style. Strong communication and collaboration skills across shop floor and leadership levels. Ability to prioritize in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. High attention to detail with a practical approach to problem‑solving. Business and cost awareness aligned with ownership culture. Work Environment & Additional Requirements Office and manufacturing floor environment. Ability to comply with ITAR/EAR requirements. Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance if required. Occasional travel to customers or suppliers may be required. Midcon Cables Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr