Senior Manager Manufacturing Engineering

Job Title: Senior Manager | Manufacturing Automation Engineering

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Job Type: Full-time, permanent

Salary: $150,000-$180,000/year, depending on experience

Summary:

We’re looking for a highly motivated Senior Manager to lead the Manufacturing Automation Engineering team for our customer- a rapidly advancing disruptor in the dental industry. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, technical vision, and a proven track record in high-throughput, automation-first environments, along with experience with and passion for robotic systems. Flexibility to travel 50% or more to our UT facility during the first two months is required. This role offers the opportunity to drive innovation and operational excellence in a fast-paced, next-generation production setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead, build, and manage the Factory Automation Engineering team for a single, high-throughput manufacturing facility.
• Set the technical vision and strategy for automation systems, ensuring alignment with aggressive growth and continuous 24/7 production goals.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and sustained performance of automated production lines, driving operational reliability and excellence.
• Take ownership of key factory outcomes, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and the development of future production capacity.
• Direct talent acquisition, onboarding, and mentorship for the engineering team, fostering a culture of ownership, data-driven decision-making, and ongoing improvement.
• Guide all planning and execution activities for new equipment qualification- IQ/OQ/PQ, ensuring rigorous standards are met.
• Champion high engineering quality through hypothesis-driven testing, thorough documentation, and the use of statistical process control tools.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and apply DMAIC/DOE methodologies to achieve systemic improvements in cost and performance.
• Architect and maintain systems and protocols that guarantee uninterrupted production uptime.
• Serve as the primary technical and operational authority for the facility, providing executive-level updates as needed.
• Ensure strict compliance with all Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
• 7 years' experience in high-volume manufacturing, process engineering, or automation engineering.
• 3 years' experience in a management role, with proven success in hiring, developing talent, and shaping technical culture.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, with practical experience applying statistical methods such as both SPC and DOE.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee the full lifecycle of automated equipment and scale manufacturing operations to meet high-volume demands.
• Track record of driving and owning top-level production metrics (OEE, Yield) for significant manufacturing areas or facilities.
• Outstanding leadership and communication skills, with experience presenting strategy, negotiating resources, and engaging with executive stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel 50 % of the time during the first ~2 months to our location in Utah.