Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology

Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology

This role requires a manufacturing engineering leader who can solve immediate production challenges while advancing the company’s manufacturing capabilities. The successful candidate will bring recent, hands-on experience with CNC manufacturing, process development, programming and troubleshooting, tooling and fixture design, and shop-floor problem solving.

Alongside those technical responsibilities, this individual will lead engineering team development and manufacturing transformation through practical automation, digital tools, and AI integration. This is an active technical leadership position requiring regular involvement on the manufacturing floor.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-On Manufacturing Engineering

• Lead the methodizing of new work, including manufacturing routings, operation sequences, setup requirements, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions.

• Provide direct technical support for CNC programming, setup optimization, machining issues, and troubleshooting.

• Lead tooling and fixture design, development, selection, and implementation.

• Work alongside machinists, programmers, production leaders, and quality personnel to resolve manufacturing problems.

• Improve cycle times, tool life, process capability, throughput, and manufacturing consistency.

• Support new product introduction and the transition of new work into stable, repeatable production.

• Ensure manufacturing processes meet drawing, tolerance, quality, and customer requirements.

Manufacturing Transformation & Technology

• Develop and execute a practical roadmap for modernizing manufacturing engineering and CNC operations.

• Lead the digitization of CNC operations, including machine connectivity, production data collection, program management, and digital work instructions.

• Identify and implement automation and AI applications that improve engineering efficiency, troubleshooting, process monitoring, and manufacturing performance.

• Evaluate new equipment, software, tooling, and manufacturing technologies based on operational needs and measurable business value.

• Turn improvement initiatives into sustained results through implementation, employee training, and adoption.

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the engineering team while remaining directly involved in technical work.

• Establish clear priorities that balance daily production support with longer-term improvement projects.

• Strengthen engineering standards, documentation, change control, and knowledge sharing.

• Partner with operations, quality, maintenance, and company leadership to address capacity, delivery, cost, and quality challenges.

• Track results through measures such as cycle time, scrap, rework, throughput, downtime, and on-time delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Significant manufacturing engineering experience in a CNC machining environment, including recent, direct involvement in technical problem solving.

• Demonstrated experience methodizing new work and developing manufacturing processes from engineering drawings through production.

• Strong working knowledge of CNC programming, machining practices, cutting tools, workholding, and fixture design.

• Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues directly on the shop floor and guide practical corrective actions.

• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, GD&T, and complex manufacturing requirements.

• Proven success leading manufacturing improvements with measurable operational results.

• Demonstrated experience implementing digital manufacturing tools, CNC connectivity, automation, or related modernization initiatives.

• Practical experience evaluating or implementing AI applications in manufacturing or engineering workflows.

• Experience leading and developing technical teams while maintaining hands-on engineering involvement.

• Strong communication, project execution, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or another precision manufacturing environment.

• Experience with CAD/CAM systems, ERP/MRP platforms, manufacturing execution systems, and machine monitoring tools.

• Experience supporting capital equipment selection, installation, and production ramp-up.

• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methods.

What Success Looks Like

• Immediate credibility with the engineering team and manufacturing floor through direct technical contribution.

• Faster resolution of CNC, tooling, fixture, and process problems.

• Reliable manufacturing methods and smoother introduction of new work.

• Measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and delivery.

• Successful adoption of digital manufacturing and AI tools that address real operational needs.

• A stronger engineering team capable of supporting current production and future growth.