Overview In this role you drive the engineering leadership for plastic injection molding and light assembly across the plant, shaping layout, capacity, and readiness for launches. You partner with cross-functional teams to ensure safe, efficient production, high-quality output, and scalable operations. You lead systematic improvement programs, PFMEA, and 6S initiatives to optimize performance. You will influence capital decisions and mentor engineers to accelerate capabilities. This is a high-impact role at ITW Smart Components within Automotive, focused on delivering robust manufacturing solutions.
Responsibilities- Lead complex manufacturing engineering projects covering injection molding, light assembly, automation, tooling, packaging, material flow, and plant layout.
- Own full plant layout and capacity planning, including equipment, cells, WIP, and future growth.
- Analyze capacity and lead adjustments to meet demand while reducing bottlenecks.
- Design manufacturing processes, automation, fixtures, and cell layouts using layout software and 3D CAD.
- Lead manufacturability reviews for new products including safety and production flow.
- Develop and maintain PFMEA, process flows, control plans, setup sheets, standard work, and launch docs.
- Own launch packaging strategy and ensure qualification, supplier coordination, and readiness.
- Maintain and validate customer packaging requirements, standards, and ergonomics.
- Support packaging fleet sizing, returnable/expendable planning, and ramp-up strategies.
- Manage customer capacity portals and documentation to align demand, quoted capacity, and performance.
- Define WIP strategy and kanban systems based on demand, cycle times, and stability.
- Drive 6S improvements and safe work area standards across the plant.
- Lead cross-functional root-cause analysis for safety, quality, downtime, and process stability issues.
- Develop capital requirements and justify projects; coordinate implementation and post-launch validation.
- Mentor Manufacturing Engineer I/II and technicians; guide prioritization and technical development.
Key requirements- 6+ years of related manufacturing engineering experience
- Strong experience in plastic injection molding; automotive Tier 1 experience preferred
- Proven leadership in plant layout, capacity planning, WIP strategy, and capital projects
- Experience with packaging design/launch and packaging fleet sizing preferred
- Experience maintaining customer capacity portals and readiness documentation preferred
- Advanced layout software and 3D CAD skills; SolidWorks preferred
- Strong knowledge of Lean, 6S, Six Sigma, PFMEA, process flow, control plans, and RCA
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate effectively
- cross-functional collaboration
- mentoring and coaching
- influence and communication
- plastic injection molding
- automation and tooling design
- layout software and 3D CAD
