Product Engineering Manager

Manager, Product Engineering

Location: Port Clinton, Ohio

Department: Manufacturing Engineering

Reports to: Director of Engineering

Classification: Salaried, Exempt

About the Company

Our client is a rapidly growing conveyor system integrator providing turnkey solutions to the retail, e-commerce, and distribution markets. The company values integrity, innovation, accountability, and collaboration, with a focus on solving customers’ evolving needs.

Position Overview

The Manager, Product Engineering leads the manufacturing engineering team and connects engineering designs with shop floor execution. This role oversees manufacturing documentation, shop routings, and automated production equipment programming and configuration to ensure designs can be manufactured accurately and efficiently.

The manager is responsible for developing the team, improving manufacturing processes, and collaborating across departments to support throughput, quality, and safety.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise project engineers and other assigned engineering or technical personnel.
• Assign workloads, establish priorities, and monitor performance.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide coaching, and support employee development.
• Review and approve bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and manufacturing documentation.
• Develop and document standard work, promote best practices, and train team members.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Processes and Shop Floor Support

• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing process flow, throughput, quality, and safety.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Advanced Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement on cross-functional initiatives.
• Ensure shop floor routings are accurate and delivered on time.
• Train engineering staff on routing development and related manufacturing requirements.
• Ensure nesting, equipment programs, and other inputs needed to manufacture designs are accurate and available on schedule.
• Support safe and ergonomic manufacturing process design.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Systems Engineering, Project Management, and Sales.
• Represent Product Engineering in cross-functional program reviews.
• Communicate technical information clearly to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Support customer and supplier technical discussions when needed.
• Participate in audits, safety reviews, and risk assessments.
• Work with other managers to meet company goals and drive improvements across departments.

Qualifications

• Strong background in manufacturing engineering and process optimization.
• Proven experience leading continuous improvement or new product introduction (NPI) initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD software.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage BOMs and routings.
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing tools and Six Sigma principles.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel-based data analysis.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to drive change and influence across departments.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• At least five years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or a related role.
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in material handling, conveyor systems, or automation environments is a plus.

Travel and Work Environment

Occasional travel may be required for training, vendor visits, or on-site project support.

This position is office-based within a manufacturing facility and requires frequent interaction on the shop floor. The manufacturing environment includes moving mechanical equipment, forklift traffic, varying noise levels, fumes or airborne particles, and seasonal temperature fluctuations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on valid job requirements without regard to any legally protected characteristic.