Plant Engineering Supervisor

Role Purpose

Responsible for managing the engineering team to improve equipment and process effectiveness and yields, drive product cost reduction activities, and facilitate new technology and product introductions. Drive the application of scientific and technological principles to operations or activities in the production of manufactured products. Make determinations regarding manufacturing methods, equipment layout, capacity utilization, process and product improvements, and process control systems. Drive manufacturing fundamental understanding though application of knowledge and methods for understanding physical phenomena to achieve specified characteristics and criteria for products and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise team of Engineers and Technicians in all areas of optical manufacturing – including Machining, Diamond Turning, Polishing, Coating, and Assembly & Testing, with focus on products and programs that are assembled and/or tested in clean environment.
• Work with Plant Engineering Manager to set and implement short- and long-term engineering strategy to achieve plant production, quality, safety and financial goals
• Coach and mentor engineering personnel as appropriate to build and leverage skill sets to enhance effectiveness of engineering group
• Understand internal customer stated and implied needs and ensure their expectations are being met
• Interface with and support Commercial and Division Engineering groups on new product and program introductions, raw material changes, and equipment or process changes
• Guide Commercial and Division Engineering groups on “design for manufacturability” by leveraging process and equipment knowledge within the engineering group
• Define and track engineering objectives that link to the overall plant and business objectives
• Assign objectives and projects to direct reports. Provide guidance on project priority to ensure direct reports are focused on the appropriate project if conflicts arise
• Promote a culture of Process Control and Process Discipline
• Apply DMAIC principles to achieve project objectives
• Forecast capital and expense spending, working with Finance team to budget accordingly year over year
• Steer the manufacturing engineering team in the creation of project Appropriation Request (AR) as needed, and project management as AR’s are approved
• Ensure that safety standards are practiced and met
• Ensure that intellectual property is protected.  

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Optical, or Physics)Desired: MS in related science, Work experience with optics or physics is a plus
• Effectively handle a high degree of change and ambiguity
• Lead technical team in resolution of problems and execution of strategy
• Interact with internal and external customers, building strong relationships for success
• Work cross functionally (commercial, technical, technology) with a focus on manufacturability
• Able to set project direction using project management tools (ie. MS Project, risk assessment, scope management, etc)
• Independent problem solving and development of approach to solutions.
• Able to make sound decisions by blending analytical thinking with practical judgment.
• Articulate clear direction and program purpose
• Communication skills, both formal and informal.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Project, Word, PowerPoint).

Hours of work:

• Typical first shift production hours, M-F, 40+ hr
• May require occasional off shift support of production, experiments, project work, other miscellaneous activity

 
Travel Requirements:  

• < 5%. May be needed for training, benchmarking or other activity

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Experience with new products or adjacencies
• Creative problem solver
• Process discipline oriented. Follows established protocols and processes. Evaluates opportunities for improvements.
• Organized, rigorous attention to detail and ability to pivot between multiple tasks
• Self-starter, motivated