CNC NPI Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Imagine stepping onto the production floor at the start of your day. You huddle with New Project Launch Engineers, review a launch plan, walk a machining cell, and spot two quick wins: a tooling change that trims cycle time on a Swiss-type lathe and a revised work instruction that boosts first-pass yield on a vertical machining center. By mid-morning, you’re presenting a capital expenditure case for a new horizontal machining center, complete with payback analysis. In the afternoon, you finalize routings in the ERP, approve a quality plan with the Quality team, and coach a technician through a wire EDM setup. That’s a snapshot of this role in action.

What You’ll Lead

• Guide the New Project Launch Engineering team to meet customer demand and margin objectives while ensuring operational excellence.
• Own the preparation and rollout of new product launches, specification updates, and process changes across machining and finishing.
• Recommend capital equipment, build investment budgets, and develop ROI/payback analyses.
• Develop and drive implementation plans for new part introductions.
• Create, review, and approve manufacturing work instructions and update ERP routings.
• Conduct time studies and labor analyses to elevate productivity and efficiency.
• Develop quality plans with Engineering and Quality partners; lead structured problem solving.
• Assess customer/print requirements versus internal capabilities and propose drawing/spec changes to customers or suppliers when needed.
• Resolve production quality issues, author rework instructions, and protect OEE.
• Hire, mentor, and coach New Product Launch Engineers and Technicians; serve as a technical resource to Manufacturing Engineers.
• Deliver training to production teams on key process changes and onboard new NPI engineers.
• Manage vendor specifications and participate in technical negotiations.
• Support RFQs to ensure technical feasibility and competitive process strategies.
• Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Operations to support company goals.

Hands-On Machining Expertise

Success in this role requires proven, practical experience with CNC machining processes, programming, tooling, setup, and process optimization across:

• Horizontal Machining Centers (HMCs)
• Vertical Machining Centers (VMCs)
• CNC Fixed-Stock Lathes
• Swiss-Type CNC Machines

Core Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership and team management capability.
• Skill in balancing multiple programs, budgets, and priorities at once.
• Advanced problem-solving and process optimization acumen.
• Clear, concise communication and technical/customer documentation skills.
• Unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Required background:

• 10+ years in manufacturing engineering, including leadership responsibilities.
• Fluency in part print specifications and dimensional requirements.
• Manufacturing and finishing processes, including:
  • Heat treating
  • Alloy steels and aluminum grades
  • Anodizing, phosphate, chrome plating
  • Sand blasting, deburring, tumbling, mass finishing
  • Investment casting
• Machining processes and methods, including:
  • Horizontal, Vertical, CNC Fixed Stock Lathe, and Swiss Machining/Programming
  • Grinding and honing
  • Wire EDM and automated machines
  • Fixture design and cutting tool specification
• Quality control foundations, SPC tool use, and process capability analysis.
• Proficiency with CMMs, optical measurement systems, and a range of gauges.
• Lean Manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience in labor analysis, workplace layout study, and time study.
• Computer skills: Excel, Word, Visio; ERP system exposure is a plus.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline required.
• Minimum 10 years’ manufacturing engineering experience, with 5+ years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• In lieu of a degree, 20+ years of equivalent technical experience may be considered.

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Able to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during an 8-hour shift.
• Regular exposure to manufacturing environments (noise, dust, machinery).
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Proficiencies

• Leadership / People Management
• CNC Tooling
• CNC Programming
• CNC Machine Repair
• CNC Machine Setup & Changeover

Schmid Tool & Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.