Manufacturing Engineering Manager Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Manufacturing Engineering Manager provides leadership across facilities, manufacturing engineering, and quality to strengthen equipment reliability, process capability, and product quality. This role establishes a coordinated technical support structure across IE&A operations, applying ITW Toolbox principles to drive safety, operational performance, and continuous improvement. The position is accountable for aligning technical resources and priorities with business needs, ensuring quality and engineering support is integrated into manufacturing processes and focused where it can have the greatest impact.
Responsibilities include:
Establishes strategic priorities across facilities, manufacturing engineering, and quality to drive measurable improvements in safety, uptime, process capability, and product quality.
Leads and develops a team of technical leaders, establishing clear performance expectations and improvement plans across facilities, manufacturing engineering, and quality.
Owns the scoping, prioritization, and justification of capital projects, balancing production impact, business needs, and FTB timing in partnership with the Operations Director.
Drives root cause problem-solving on chronic process and quality issues, escalating cross-functionally when a fix requires input beyond the plant floor.
Ensures manufacturing engineering support is standardized and shared across all IE&A operations rather than developed in silos.
Aligns quality engineering resources with manufacturing needs.
Hires, develops, and retains a diverse team of technical talent while building a strong pipeline, with an eye toward succession within the Sr Quality Engineer and Manufacturing Engineer seats.
Communicates company and department plans, priorities, and performance progress to employees and key stakeholders.
Fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, and continuous improvement while developing a flexible, responsive workforce.
Collaborates with cross-divisional teams to identify best practices and leverage shared operational capabilities and overall business growth.
Minimum Qualifications:- Bachelor's Degree: Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering required
- Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience, with exposure to at least two of the following: manufacturing engineering, quality, facilities/maintenance.
- Experience leading leaders with direct reports is preferred.
- Change agent that demonstrates original thinking, facilitation skills, and the ability to develop innovative approaches for improving workflow and processes within the ITW Business Model.
- Displays an ability to work effectively within complex decision making and organizational structures. Has an ability to lead and coordinate successful cross-functional improvements with analytical skills, including the use of root cause problem-solving tools.
- Understands a variety of operational excellence competencies including but not limited to: ITW Toolbox, Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, Visual Management, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Kaizen, Poke Yoke, etc.
- Ability to build strong, trusted, working relationships with internal and external business customers and executive level management, providing influence without authority, and managing stakeholders/clients' expectations effectively.
- Proven ability to operate independently, influence across functions, and have a track record of delivered results.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication/presentation skills with a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to travel as needed to support facilities and operations across sites.
Key Competencies:- Strong leadership skills: leads both people and change effectively.
- Result-driven, accountability focused – holds self and others responsible for delivering results and modeling ITW Leadership Expectations.
- Strategic vision – ability to progressively lead a technical organization towards the achievement of short and long-term strategic objectives, anticipating future change implications and impacts.
- Strong business acumen paired with enterprise-first mindset (across all functional areas) – proactively collaborates to solve problems effectively across all levels.
- Why ITW Welding?
- Join a collaborative and growth-focused team where your expertise will directly impact the company's financial health and operational success. We value innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Here's what we offer to help you build the future you want:
- Generous Retirement Benefits – 401(k) match PLUS an additional retirement contribution to help you plan for the future.
Paid Time Off:
11 paid holidays, 5 sick days, and vacation time to take time for what matters. Company-Paid Insurance – Life, AD&D, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability insurance to give you peace of mind. Family-Friendly Benefits – 4 weeks of paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement to support your family journey. Education Assistance – tuition reimbursement because we believe in investing in your personal and professional development. At ITW Welding, we're not just a place to work – we're a community that empowers you to grow and make a real impact. Join us and build a career that makes a difference!
Company Description:
Comprised of a market-leading portfolio of best-in-class brands, the businesses of ITW Welding work together to provide premium performance delivered through a breadth of solutions encompassing welding, cutting, consumables, and accessories. ITW Welding North America represents Miller Electric Welding Equipment, Safety & Accessories, Hobart Filler Metals, and Bernard / Tregaskiss MIG Guns. Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and wholly owned by Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW). The company maintains its industry leadership by setting the standard for reliability, quality and responsiveness. Our tagline, "The Power of Blue," is inspired by the blue color of Miller equipment. ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues' unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
