Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Lead Manufacturing Engineer

The Manufacturing Engineer leads and actively participates in the engineering function that supports manufacturing operations, ensuring that customer product requirements are met on time and at the highest quality standards. This role focuses on safety, regulatory and standards compliance, continuous improvement, and ownership of capital projects and equipment. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager partners closely with cross-functional teams, directly manages a Mechanical Engineer, and divides time between office-based work and hands-on activities on the manufacturing floor.

Responsibilities

• Lead the manufacturing engineering function to ensure production processes consistently meet customer product requirements in terms of quality, delivery, and performance.
• Own and manage capital projects, including planning, justification, selection, installation, and integration of capital equipment into manufacturing operations.
• Oversee and optimize manufacturing processes, including routing, time studies, and shop layout, to improve throughput, efficiency, and safety.
• Manage and maintain accurate part data, including bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and related technical information within the ERP system and other data management tools.
• Ensure technical documentation is organized, current, and compliant with relevant standards, including ISO-related requirements for technical information management.
• Apply 5S and Lean manufacturing principles to drive continuous improvement in processes, workflow, and workplace organization.
• Support and optimize high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operations, including engineering-to-order and make-to-stock environments, while accommodating some longer-run work.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as production, quality, supply chain, and maintenance to resolve issues, support new product introduction, and improve overall operational performance.
• Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and day-to-day management to a Mechanical Engineer, fostering technical growth, accountability, and effective teamwork.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement process improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and cost-effectiveness across the manufacturing operation.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing data, including time studies and routing performance, to identify bottlenecks and drive data-informed decision-making.
• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the engineering and production teams.

Essential Skills

• Strong experience with capital project management, including planning and executing projects involving capital equipment.
• Demonstrated comfort working with capital equipment, including evaluation, implementation, and ongoing support in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with part data management and organizing technical information in a structured and compliant manner.
• ISO-related experience, particularly in organizing, controlling, and maintaining technical documentation and product data.
• Solid understanding of routing and time studies, including how they impact capacity planning, scheduling, and costing.
• Strong knowledge of bills of materials (BOMs) and their role in manufacturing processes and ERP systems.
• Hands-on experience working with ERP systems to manage manufacturing data, including BOMs, routings, and related production information.
• Proven mentorship and leadership ability, with prior experience directly managing engineering staff such as Mechanical Engineers.
• Experience in process improvement, including the ability to assess current-state processes and implement effective enhancements.
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments, including exposure to both engineering-to-order and make-to-stock production models.
• Knowledge of and exposure to 5S and Lean manufacturing principles and their practical application on the shop floor.

Work Environment

This is a day-shift role with an early start and some flexibility in scheduling. Approximately 75% of the work is desk-based, focusing on engineering, planning, data management, and collaboration with cross-functional teams, while about 25% of the time is spent on the manufacturing floor, engaging directly with equipment, processes, and production staff. The environment involves working with ERP systems, technical documentation, and manufacturing data, as well as applying 5S and Lean principles in an active production setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of East Canton, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.46 - $48.08/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in East Canton, OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 15, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.