Engineering Manager

Position Summary

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and developing the engineering team while owning the design, development, research and development, and continuous improvement of both products and manufacturing processes. This role serves as the critical link between product design and how it is built, ensuring solutions are technically sound, manufacturable, scalable, and cost-effective.

This role drives alignment between engineering, production, quality, and overall business objectives, ensuring that designs translate seamlessly into efficient, repeatable manufacturing processes. This individual must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balance day-to-day operational needs with long-term development priorities, and ensure engineering resources are focused on the highest-value opportunities.

This role requires a strong, consistent presence on the production floor, working directly with operators and supervisors to understand challenges firsthand and ensure engineering solutions are practical, effective, and fully implemented in daily operations.

In this role, success is achieved by consistently demonstrating Hudson Lock’s core values: Customer Focus, Quality & Reliability, Innovation, Integrity, and Resilience in all decisions, actions, and interactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the engineering team to achieve departmental and organizational goals
• Own product design and manufacturing process development, ensuring alignment between engineering intent and production execution
• Drive research and development initiatives to improve existing products, develop new solutions, and enhance manufacturing capabilities
• Manage multiple engineering and development projects simultaneously, aligning priorities, timelines, and resources with business needs
• Partner closely with Production to ensure manufacturing processes are efficient, repeatable, and capable of meeting quality and delivery expectations
• Collaborate with Quality, Sourcing, and Customer Service to ensure design decisions support overall product performance and customer satisfaction
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, and cost-reduction initiatives across both product and manufacturing environments
• Ensure all engineering documentation, drawings, process instructions, and specifications are accurate, controlled, and reflect current manufacturing practices
• Support new product introduction, ensuring designs are production-ready and processes are validated prior to release
• Identify and resolve technical and process-related issues impacting production, quality, or delivery
• Establish and monitor engineering KPIs, including design effectiveness, process efficiency, scrap reduction, and cycle time improvements
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and internal procedures
• Evaluate and implement equipment, tooling, and technology improvements to support both product innovation and manufacturing capability
• Act as a key partner to leadership in prioritizing engineering initiatives that drive business performance
• Maintain a strong, hands-on presence on the production floor, working shoulder-to-shoulder with operators to identify issues, validate solutions, and ensure engineering decisions translate effectively into daily operations

Qualifications / Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field) required
• 5–10 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience with product development and research and development activities, including design improvement and validation
• Experience with ERP systems, preferably Epicor Kinetic
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills
• Proficiency in CAD systems and engineering documentation
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Strong project management, organizational, and execution abilities

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership and team development mindset
• Results-driven with a focus on continuous improvement and practical execution
• High level of accountability and ownership
• Strategic thinker with strong decision-making ability
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
• High level of integrity and professionalism
• Able to balance innovation, operational urgency, and long-term business needs
• Comfortable working hands-on in a manufacturing environment and building trust with production teams

Working Conditions/ Physical Requirements:

• Combination of office and manufacturing floor environment. 
• Exposure to machinery, noise, and production activity. 
• Ability to walk production floor regularly and engage with teams. 
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs. 
• Use of required PPE (e.g., safety glasses, hearing protection) as needed.