Engineering Manager
Job Description
- Our client, a growing custom manufacturing company, is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead engineering operations while serving as a key partner to manufacturing. This hands-on leadership role is focused on driving continuous improvement, supporting production, and leading engineering and CAD teams within a fast-paced job shop environment.
- The ideal candidate will have a strong manufacturing background and enjoy spending time on the plant floor, collaborating with production leaders to improve processes, increase efficiency, and ensure products are designed for manufacturability, quality, and cost. This position requires a leader who can balance engineering excellence with operational execution while developing high-performing teams and supporting business growth.
- Lead and develop the Engineering and CAD teams while providing technical leadership and support to Production Supervisors and manufacturing personnel.
- Serve as a visible presence on the production floor, partnering closely with operations to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve day-to-day performance.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on increasing productivity, improving quality, reducing waste, and optimizing manufacturing processes.
- Identify production bottlenecks and implement practical engineering solutions that improve throughput and efficiency.
- Lead design-for-manufacturing initiatives to improve manufacturability, reduce production costs, and standardize engineering practices.
- Oversee engineering documentation, including drawings, bills of material (BOMs), revision control, and engineering change management.
- Support custom and engineered-to-order projects by ensuring designs are accurate, manufacturable, and aligned with customer requirements.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing to improve production processes, material utilization, and overall operational performance.
- Mentor engineers, designers, and cross-functional teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Support new product development and product enhancements while ensuring seamless integration into manufacturing operations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 7+ years of engineering leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience leading engineering teams in a custom fabrication, job shop, engineer-to-order, or made-to-order manufacturing environment.
- Proven success driving Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and manufacturing process optimization initiatives.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams, including engineers, CAD designers, and production personnel.
- Strong understanding of sheet metal fabrication, mechanical assemblies, manufacturing processes, and design-for-manufacturing principles.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar 3D CAD software.
- Experience managing engineering documentation, BOMs, engineering change control, and ERP-integrated engineering systems.
- Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering and operations.
Meet Your Recruiter
Alicia Alexander
Technical Recruiter & Team Mentor
Alicia Alexander is a Technical Recruiter and Team Mentor at Sterling Engineering with four years of recruiting experience and nearly three years with Sterling. She specializes in engineering, manufacturing, and technical recruiting, supporting roles across maintenance, reliability, operations, engineering, and industrial environments, including food and life sciences.
Alicia is passionate about helping people find careers where they feel genuinely happy, supported, and positioned for long-term growth. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with candidates, helping them take the next step in their careers, and supporting companies as they build strong, high-performing teams.
With a background in psychology and human resources from North Central College, Alicia brings a people-focused approach to recruiting. Her understanding of relationship building, communication, and candidate motivation helps her create successful matches between talent and opportunity.
Alicia is known for developing strong partnerships with both candidates and hiring managers, with a focus on creating long-term placements that benefit both the individual and the organization.