Engineering Manager - Manufacturing and Product Engineering

Job Description

Location: Shelburne, Vermont

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Department: Engineering / Operations

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Reports To: VP of Manufacturing

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Role Overview

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Atlas Gunworks operates in a precision manufacturing environment where engineering decisions directly impact product performance, manufacturability, and scalability.

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The Engineering Manager leads the integration of product design, manufacturing engineering, and process execution. This role is accountable for building technical systems that translate design intent into repeatable, high-yield production outcomes.

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This is not a purely administrative leadership role. The Engineering Manager is expected to operate as both strategic leader and technical executor. The individual must be comfortable leading teams while simultaneously engaging in proof of concept work, process validation, fixture reviews, tolerance analysis, and production problem solving.

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Leadership Scope

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• Lead Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering functions

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• Build technical roadmaps aligned to production scaling needs

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• Establish engineering execution standards and accountability systems

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• Drive cross-functional alignment between Engineering, Quality, and Operations

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• Develop engineering talent and succession depth

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Core Responsibilities

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Engineering Leadership & Team Development

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• Manage and mentor design and manufacturing engineers

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• Establish performance expectations and development pathways

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• Build capability in fixture design, process engineering, and manufacturability

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• Define and implement the policies and procedures of engineering change management

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Technical Execution & Process Ownership

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• Lead manufacturing process development and validation

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• Oversee fixture strategy and workholding architecture

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• Ensure tight-tolerance manufacturability across product lines

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• Validate machining strategies and production readiness

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Proof of Concept & Substantive Testing

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• Lead prototype builds and proof of concept validation

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• Develop structured engineering test plans

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• Define data collection methodologies and validation criteria

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• Translate testing results into production decisions

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Root Cause & Failure Analysis

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• Lead structured root cause investigations

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• Apply fact-finding methodologies to production and product failures

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• Implement corrective and preventive actions

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• Institutionalize lessons learned into engineering standards

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Planning, Implementation & Execution Discipline

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• Own engineering project planning and implementation roadmaps

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• Establish task management systems and execution tracking

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• Drive schedule adherence across engineering deliverables

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• Align engineering output to production capacity and launch timelines

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Technical Documentation & Standards

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• Develop product definition and build standards

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• Oversee drawing standards, GD&T application, and revision control

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• Ensure work instruction and process documentation rigor

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• Maintain configuration and engineering change governance

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Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

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• Lead OPEX initiatives across manufacturing engineering

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• Drive cost, cycle time, and scrap reduction programs

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• Support automation and lights-out manufacturing strategies

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Required Qualifications

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• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field

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• 10+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing environments

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• Leadership experience managing engineering teams

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• Direct experience within CNC machining operations

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• Background in aerospace, defense, or equivalent tight-tolerance industries

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• Expectational understanding of the mechanical function of double stack 1911’s, OR deep knowledge of titling barrel pistol designs.

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• Expertise in fixture design and manufacturing process development

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• Strong GD&T and technical drawing proficiency

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Preferred Qualifications

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• Military service or defense industry experience

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• Firearms manufacturing exposure

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• Multi-axis CNC and advanced machining knowledge

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• CAM programming familiarity

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• Lean / Six Sigma certification

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• Automation integration experience

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Leadership & Execution Profile

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The right candidate:

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• Leads from the floor, not just the office

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• Engages directly in technical problem solving

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• Thrives in proof-of-concept and validation environments

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• Demands data before conclusions

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• Operates with task and schedule discipline

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• Drives root cause resolution, not symptom fixes

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• Balances leadership authority with hands-on execution

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Compensation:

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$130,000 - $160,000 DOE

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