Sr. Engineering Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing engineering, process improvement, automation, tooling, and new product launch activities at a high-volume Tier 1 automotive manufacturing facility in Pulaski, TN.

The Engineering Manager will provide hands-on technical and organizational leadership while partnering closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and customers to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience supporting major automotive OEM programs and understands the demands of a fast-paced, metrics-driven manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Manufacturing Engineering team, establishing accountability, priorities, performance expectations, and technical development.
• Direct manufacturing engineering activities supporting high-volume Tier 1 automotive production and OEM customer programs.
• Lead new product launches and engineering changes utilizing APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, process validation, and related customer requirements.
• Develop and execute capital projects involving automation, robotics, tooling, fixtures, equipment, and process improvements.
• Manage projects from concept and ROI justification through equipment specification, procurement, installation, commissioning, validation, and production launch.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System (TPS), World Class Manufacturing (WCM), and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Analyze manufacturing performance and lead engineering-based corrective actions to improve scrap, rework, throughput, first-pass yield, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Partner with Quality to address customer concerns, corrective actions, process capability, and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Support production troubleshooting and provide rapid technical solutions to manufacturing, equipment, tooling, and process issues.
• Establish and utilize engineering and manufacturing KPIs to identify opportunities and communicate performance to plant leadership.
• Manage engineering budgets, capital expenditures, contractors, vendors, and external technical resources.
• Work directly with customers and internal cross-functional teams during launches, audits, engineering changes, and continuous improvement activities.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, structured problem solving, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred.
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, with progressive leadership responsibility.
• Experience in a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams and cross-functional manufacturing initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, root-cause analysis, and IATF 16949.
• Experience with automotive OEM customer requirements and production launches.
• Proven experience with automation, robotics, tooling, fixtures, and capital equipment.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, TPS, WCM, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Ability to develop capital justifications using ROI, NPV, payback, and financial analysis.
• Strong project management, communication, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-volume, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.