Manufacturing / New Product Development Engineer

New Product Development Engineer

Ainsley Search Group is partnering with a precision metal manufacturing organization that supports highly regulated industries, including aerospace, medical, defense, and power generation.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys being close to the manufacturing process, supporting new product introductions, and helping turn customer requirements and engineering concepts into stable, repeatable production processes.

Responsibilities

• Support new product development and new product introduction projects from concept/prototype through production launch.
• Translate engineering concepts, customer requirements, and technical drawings into practical manufacturing processes.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Production to ensure new products are manufacturable, repeatable, and aligned with customer expectations.
• Develop, maintain, and update process documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, control plans, process maps, and related manufacturing documentation.
• Evaluate and improve existing production processes to increase efficiency, yield, quality, and product consistency.
• Provide hands-on technical support to production teams by troubleshooting process issues and helping reduce downtime, scrap, and rework.
• Monitor process performance using data, SPC, KPIs, and other quality/process tools.
• Support root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assist with equipment upgrades, tooling/fixture improvements, process changes, and capital improvement projects.
• Support process validation, qualification, and change management activities.
• Train operators and technicians on new processes, equipment, documentation, and best practices.
• Ensure manufacturing processes align with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or NPD/NPI-focused engineering role.
• Experience in a metal-related manufacturing environment is required.
• Strong experience supporting new product development, new product introduction, or commercialization .
• Hands-on experience working with production teams in a discrete manufacturing environment.
• Experience with metal manufacturing processes such as precision tubing, machining, fabrication, forming, welding, stamping, or related metal products is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, SPC, FMEA, root cause analysis, and corrective action tools.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical, hands-on approach.
• Ability to communicate effectively with operators, technicians, engineers, quality teams, and leadership.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment and managing multiple priorities.