Sr Manufacturing Engineer

Starkey is adding a Sr Manufacturing Engineer I at its global headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN. Are you a Sr Manufacturing Engineer with 6 to 10 years of experience? Do you enjoy collaboration, mentoring and building relationships? Do you have a strong understanding of design or engineering a product in order: to facilitate change(s) of a new or current manufacturing process that will improve our manufacturing efficiencies? If so, this could a great career move. Starkey is the world leader in hearing aid manufacturing and distribution. Come join the best in class in the hearing aid industry and help change lives with better hearing!

Starkey is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of advanced hearing technologies. We are in the business of connecting people and changing lives. Our teams come to work each day focused on ensuring people everywhere have the products and services they need to hear better and live better. Founded in 1967 by Bill Austin, Starkey is known for our cutting-edge hearing health innovations, industry-leading research and development, and not being afraid to push the edge of what’s possible. We are headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have over 5,000 employees in 29 facilities across the globe, and do business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

Watch this video to see more of what sets Starkey apart.

https://youtu.be/9cUYwTlCepg?si=wkovx8_R_iINfrc6

This position is responsible for ensuring product designs are achieving business goals by effectively implementing robust manufacturing processes and supporting continuous improvement into manufacturing. Candidate must have a strong understanding of design or engineering a product in order: to facilitate change(s) of a new or current manufacturing process that will improve our manufacturing efficiencies. Must have strong communication skills, technical drive, persistence and team building skills while maintaining a quality product. Responsible to fix potential problems during all product development phases, continuation and end of life to support the designs that are recognized as best- in-class in the hearing aid industry.

• Continually improve the manufacturing processes of our custom, standard and accessory products.
  • Lead PFMEA efforts during product development to reduce process risks.
  • Represent Manufacturing Engineering (voice of manufacturing) to other development teams within R&D and Contract manufacturers.
    • Act as technical manufacturing lead at the program level
    • Interface with R&D teams while developing and maintaining positive interdepartmental collaboration.
    • Interface with contract manufacturers while developing and maintaining positive collaboration.
    • Provide recommendations regarding contract manufacturing capabilities
    • Support and provide input for DFM improvements through Program / Project charters and system requirements specifications.
  • Lead, drive improvement efforts on existing manufacturing processes that are justified and implement new fully tested processes.
  • Partner with Design Engineering on new product development. Participate in design reviews, establish manufacturing requirements, and coordinate needed testing or device builds.
  • Partner with Quality Engineering to identify and implement ongoing quality improvements
  • Qualify and validate new and improved processes, fixtures, equipment and technology for manufacturability.
  • Review manufacturing processes for inefficiencies
    • Identify and implement improvements in the product development process that could be streamlined.
    • Pursue build & test automation where appropriate.
• Drive testing and troubleshooting of product to characterize the device.
  • Generate test plans and procedures to characterize the unit.
  • Coordinate product testing and report generation.
  • Analyze process data.
  • Identify opportunities and implement solutions
• Optimization of key manufacturing measures.
  • Organize and report on key manufacturing measures.
    • Identify and drive opportunities to manage and reduce the Internal rework of Starkey’s hearing aids.
    • Identify and drive opportunities to manage and reduce the internal material variance of Starkey’s hearing aids
    • Lead conference calls with manufacturing facilities to determine root cause and action items.
  • Participate in solving product and process issues.
    • Lead / Facilitate Starkey and contract manufacturing Production PIPs (Product Improvement Programs) on a regular basis.
    • Production and recovery support.
  • Initiate internal and some external product and process audit to drive improvements.
  • Support manufacturing with failure analysis and corrective action implementation.
  • Lead and support CAPA items using manufacturing tools such as DMAIC, DOE, Problem Analysis, SPC, and other problem-solving techniques to improve internal quality.
  • Provide yield expectations and analysis, time studies, and capacity.
  • Lead and define Manufacturing system design and maintenance strategies.
• Support and Measure Manufacturing Technical support department performance and continuously improve it.
  • Execute department performance scorecard.
  • Execute annual department objectives to drive strategic improvements for the department.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers.
  • Meet with junior engineers regularly to discuss work direction.
  • Meet with the junior engineers periodically to provide guidance on projects and tasks
  • Other duties/responsibilities as assigned 

Job Requirements
Minimum Education, Certification and Experience Requirements
Education
o Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing or mechanical engineering or equivalent work experience required.
o Six Sigma Greenbelt preferred 

Experience
o Six to ten years of manufacturing engineering in a product development environment required o Hearing industry or medical device industry experience preferred

Knowledge / Technical Requirements

• Knowledge of new product development systems required
• Knowledge of process validation required.
• Knowledge of relevant product development methods and best practices (i.e. DFMA, PFMEA, DFMEA, Lean PD, Agile development, DOE, etc.). 
• Experience solving advanced technical problems.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills required.
• Excellent people skills required.
• Sufficient judgment to make reasonable business decisions concerning manufacturing issues with regard for both economic and quality aspects.
• Strong work ethic and a passion for managing people and processes

WORK CONTEXT
Working Conditions

• Standard office conditions
• Some travel (10-15%) expected to work directly with manufacturing sites 

Equipment Operation

• Measure scope /Toolmakers microscope
• Computer and associated spreadsheet/word processing software
• Microscope
• Acoustic test equipment

Salary and Other Compensation:
The target rate for this position is between $93,940 to $119,187/year.  Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.  

Benefits: The following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, employee assistance plan, hearing aid benefits, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, paid floating holidays, paid volunteer service day, paid paternity and maternity leave and tuition reimbursement

This position is eligible for a bonus based upon performance results. There is no guarantee of payout.

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Salary : $93,940 - $119,187