Engineering Section Supervisor

Purpose of the Position:

To lead and/or participate on project teams to develop new manufacturing technology for the purposes of reducing cost, increasing capacity and/or improving product.

Day to Day Responsibilities:

• Supervise team of engineers and technicians that support the equipment & processes
• Assist with identification of cost reduction, capability, and capacity improvement efforts
• Sponsor and lead projects target at cost reduction, new products, safety, quality, increased capacity and other strategic initiatives
• Coordinate Production support efforts to maximize performance (selects, utilization, output) and minimize manufacturing costs
• Actively engage in plant safety initiatives and projects
• Assist with adjustments to priorities as dictated by business conditions
• Provide coaching to team members to assist with their professional development, particularly technical development through fundamental understanding (PEx, MEE, scientific method)
• Actively work with team members to define and update career plans
• Develop/maintain short and long term strategies to improve process performance, achieve cost reductions targets and maximize efficiency of support resources
• Sponsor and lead projects target at cost reduction, new products, safety, quality, increased capacity and other strategic initiatives
• Track department and capital spending to ensure spending targets are not exceeded

Travel Requirements: minimal (less than 5%)

Hours of work/work schedule/flex-time: Monday-Friday.  The position is overtime exempt.  Overtime is not uncommon and is expected at times, however the amount and duration will vary as a function of business needs. 

Required Education: BS or MS in Chemical, Materials, Mechanical or Electrical engineering OR degree in other Engineering discipline with demonstrated capability in working in engineering

Required Years and Area of Experience:

• Leadership experience in functional or project role(s)
• Four (4) or more years’ experience in Manufacturing and/or Engineering

Required Skills:

• Ability to make sound technical decisions within and outside area of expertise
• Strong communications skills and customer orientation
• Ability to work effectively on all levels of an organization
• Project management capability, particularly coordination of multiple, inter-related tasks
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work on an independent basis in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of fiber optical and physical parameters including the factors that affect them
• Use scientific method and engineering first principles to solve problems thoroughly and effectively, using well-designed and executed processes
• Basic skills for data collection and data analysis

Desired Skills:

• Supervisory skills, particularly in coaching technical employees
• Six Sigma/DMAIC Greenbelt or Blackbelt certification
• Knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting (budget tracking/spending)
• Project management experience
• MEE practitioner and supervisor training

Soft Skills:

• Work well both within a multi-disciplinary team and independently with minimal oversight
• Ability to coach and develop others
• Strong communication and presentation skills