Manufacturing Engineering Manager

This plant operates with exceptionally high retention and a strong team culture. The Manufacturing Engineering Manager must be a relationship-driven leader who values collaboration, communication, and employee engagement. The role requires someone who is comfortable being visible on the floor, building trust with operators, and creating an environment where people want to stay and grow.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Furniture Manufacturing (Seating Plant)

Schedule: Onsite, Monday-Friday

Position Overview

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will lead engineering and maintenance operations for a high-retention, high-performance seating manufacturing plant producing primarily office chairs. This role oversees a small but highly efficient team, drives plant-wide process improvements, manages capital projects, and fosters a strong, people-first culture. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering leader who thrives on the production floor, collaborates closely with operators, and brings both strategic and tactical manufacturing expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of 3 Manufacturing Engineers and 6 Maintenance Technicians within a 240-employee plant.
• Oversee daily engineering operations, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with operators on the production floor to identify issues, troubleshoot problems, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Manage capital budgeting, including preparing investment proposals, securing approvals, and executing capital projects.
• Drive plant layout optimization, workflow improvements, and equipment utilization strategies.
• Champion lean manufacturing principles; apply Six Sigma methodologies where appropriate.
• Maintain and strengthen the plant’s exceptional culture and retention (98% retention, extremely low turnover).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with leadership to support long-term operational strategy and manufacturing excellence.
• Ensure safety, quality, and productivity standards are consistently met.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related discipline preferred).
• Proven experience working as an engineer in a manufacturing environment.
• Leadership experience overseeing engineering teams; exposure to maintenance teams is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated experience with capital budgeting, investment approval processes, and capital project execution.
• Plant layout, workflow design, and process optimization experience.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage operators, technicians, and leadership.
• Hands-on, floor-focused leadership style with a big-picture mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in furniture manufacturing or related industries.
• Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma experience (certification is a plus).
• Background in seating, assembly, or high-volume production environments.