Overview In this role you drive manufacturing improvements at Budd Lake to reduce cost and variability, partnering with cross-functional teams. You will analyze data and processes to uncover margin opportunities, lead cycle-time and throughput projects, and implement automation and AI-enabled analytics. You'll develop documentation, validate new processes, and train staff, contributing to scalable, high-quality manufacturing. This is a hands-on role focused on delivering measurable business impact in a precision environment.
Compensation / Benefits- competitive compensation program
- career development platform
- stability and growth
- global leader in lasers and engineered materials
- opportunity to work across multiple markets
Responsibilities- Drive process improvements to reduce manufacturing variance, absorption variance, and product cost
- Analyze production data, routings, labor standards, yields, scrap, rework, and capacity to identify margin opportunities
- Lead cycle time reduction, throughput improvement, and labor content optimization for Sapphire and YVO4
- Develop and maintain process documentation (work instructions, routers, travelers, BOMs, PFMEAs)
- Improve material utilization, WIP flow, inventory turns, and production planning alignment
- Design, qualify, and implement tooling, automation, robotics, and error-proofing solutions
- Apply AI-enabled tools, analytics, dashboards, and predictive methods for visibility and decision speed
- Use Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, RCA, and process capability to stabilize processes and deliver results
- Partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, and Engineering to improve routing accuracy and cost models
- Lead validation and implementation of new or revised manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and control plans
- Identify and manage capital and continuous improvement projects to improve throughput, capacity, quality, and gross margin
- Train production personnel on updated processes, automated systems, robotics cells, AI tools, and standard work
Key requirements- BS in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or other relevant technical degree
- 5+ years' experience in manufacturing/process engineering or production operations in a precision manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience reducing cost via cycle time, yield, labor efficiency, material utilization, scrap reduction, and routing accuracy
- Practical knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, FMEA/PFMEA, process capability, RCA, and corrective actions
- Experience developing manufacturing documentation (routers, travelers, work instructions, BOMs, process flows, standard labor assumptions, control plans)
- Working knowledge of automation, robotics, machine integration, data acquisition, and manufacturing systems
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analysis; ability to interpret ERP/MRP, production, quality, and cost data to drive action
- Experience building cost models, capacity models, labor standards, OEE/throughput dashboards, or variance reduction scorecards
- Strong cross-functional leadership and ability to influence without direct authority
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, organization, and follow-through skills
- cross-functional leadership
- excellent problem-solving
- strong communication
- automation and robotics implementation
- vision systems and AI-enabled analytics
- machine learning tools in manufacturing
