Detailed Qualifications & Candidate Profile
Education:
A bachelor's degree in engineering is required. Candidates should possess a strong academic foundation in mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or a closely related engineering discipline. This formal education should have provided exposure to both the theoretical and practical aspects of engineering principles, systems optimization, and production design.
Experience:
Candidates must have 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in an engineering or related technical field, ideally within a manufacturing, industrial, or product development environment. This experience should reflect a progressive increase in responsibilities, including involvement in process improvement initiatives, design and analysis of systems, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
In addition, 3 to 5 years of leadership experience in engineering or manufacturing operations is preferred. This includes demonstrated success in managing teams, leading projects, coordinating production or design schedules, and driving departmental or organizational improvements through strategic planning and tactical execution.
Technical Proficiency:
Proficiency in CAD software (such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar tools) is essential. The ideal candidate will be adept at creating detailed process layouts, tooling configurations, and workflow diagrams that contribute to facility planning, operational efficiency, and equipment design. Experience with 3D modeling, simulation tools, or digital twin environments is a plus.
Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement:
A Lean Manufacturing certification (such as Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar) is highly desirable. Candidates should be familiar with lean principles and methodologies and have a proven track record of applying these tools to eliminate waste, improve quality, and enhance production flow. Experience leading or participating in continuous improvement events such as value stream mapping, root cause analysis (RCA), or 5S programs is strongly preferred.
Language Skills:
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred. This enables more effective communication with a diverse workforce, especially in environments where Spanish is commonly spoken on the production floor or among technical staff.
Analytical & Problem-Solving Abilities:
The role demands strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to diagnose technical problems, evaluate process inefficiencies, and implement innovative, data-driven solutions. An ability to think both tactically and strategically is essential, as is the capacity to navigate complexity and ambiguity in a dynamic environment.
Leadership & Collaboration:
Ideal candidates will have a proven ability to lead, coach, and empower teams. They must be capable of fostering a collaborative culture, building consensus across departments, and inspiring confidence among team members. Experience leveraging cross-functional teams to implement change, drive accountability, and exceed operational goals is highly valued.
Strategic Execution & Results Orientation:
Successful candidates will have a track record of developing and executing strategic initiatives with measurable outcomes. They should be comfortable working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments and able to manage multiple priorities without sacrificing quality. A history of delivering improvements in areas such as production output, cost reduction, process uptime, or safety performance will distinguish top-tier applicants.