At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make “good things, for life.” As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we’re powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together.
The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities.
Interested in joining us on our journey?
We're looking for an experienced and visionary Plant Manufacturing Engineering Leader to shape the future of our manufacturing operations. This newly created leadership role offers a unique opportunity to build and lead a high-performing Manufacturing Engineering organization while driving operational excellence across engineering, maintenance, and facilities.As a key member of the plant leadership team, you'll be responsible for developing technical capabilities, optimizing manufacturing performance, leading capital and continuous improvement initiatives, and creating the processes and systems that will support long-term operational success. If you're passionate about building teams, solving complex manufacturing challenges, and driving meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you.PositionDirector, Manufacturing EngineeringLocationUSA, Decatur, ALHow You'll Create Possibilities
Build and Lead a World-Class Engineering Organization
Establish and lead an integrated Manufacturing Engineering organization, including Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities Engineering, and Maintenance teams.
Develop team objectives, build technical capability, and mentor engineering and maintenance talent.
Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Drive Manufacturing Performance
Own the overall technical performance of the plant, including production equipment, tooling, and facility infrastructure.
Partner with Operations to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), equipment reliability, quality, productivity, and manufacturing efficiency.
Lead equipment, tooling, and process improvements that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
Lead Maintenance & Reliability Strategy
Develop and execute preventive maintenance strategies that maximize equipment performance while minimizing downtime.
Optimize maintenance resources to support production schedules and long-term equipment reliability.
Shape the Future of the Plant
Develop manufacturing strategies that support future business needs, including:
New Product Introductions (NPI)
Product line expansions and volume changes
Cost reduction initiatives
Long-term manufacturing planning
Evaluate future capacity through scenario planning and manufacturing strategy development.
Partner on New Product Introductions
Represent the plant during NPI program reviews to ensure manufacturing readiness.
Coordinate seamless transitions from product development into production by ensuring equipment, tooling, staffing, and technical resources are prepared for successful launches.
Lead Capital Planning & Continuous Improvement
Own the plant's capital project portfolio and annual spending plan.
Prioritize investments that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational performance.
Partner with Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME), Advanced Quality Engineering (AQE), Operations, Lean, and Product teams on strategic manufacturing initiatives.
Champion Lean Manufacturing
Drive Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement throughout the plant.
Identify waste, improve processes, and support productivity initiatives using Lean tools and the Appliance Performance System.
Ensure Safe & Sustainable Operations
Maintain ownership of plant facilities, infrastructure, and space utilization.
Ensure all equipment and process changes comply with Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), ergonomic, and Human Organizational Performance (HOP) standards.
Minimum Qualifications:
Technical Degree or equivalent experience.
Minimum 7+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership roles.
Strong operational plant finance background and understanding.
Strong understanding of Union Relations and demonstrated experience building relationships with Union leadership.
Experience managing large manufacturing and engineering projects.
Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, grow and maintain a skilled engineering team.
Fluent with Lean manufacturing principles.
Strong communication skills – will be expected to communicate to all levels of the organization. From the plant floor up to executive staff members.
Demonstrated ability to take ownership of cross-functional program deliverables and ability to drive decisions based on the overall benefit to the company.
Preferred Qualifications:
BS Engineering (IE, ME or EE) or equivalent.
Six Sigma certification with strong knowledge of LEAN, DMAIC, workout and other change mechanisms.
Demonstrated leadership responsibility in a union manufacturing environment.
Lean Manufacturing implementation experience.
Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.
This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that: Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute. Strengthen communities where we live and work. Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement. Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices.
By further embedding Zero Distance into our People and Culture framework, we will continue to build a deeply connected organization. We are cultivating a culture of engagement, belonging, and connection, because while attracting new talent remains a priority, retention is a cornerstone of our strategy.
GE Appliances is a trust-based organization. It is important we offer our employees the flexibility they need to do their best work while balancing the needs of the business and individuals. When you join GE Appliances, you will have the opportunity to work with your leader to create a flexible work arrangement that balances the needs of the individual, team, and organization.
GE Appliances is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE Appliances participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply, please send an e-mail to [email protected]
Skills Required
- Technical degree or equivalent experience
- Minimum 7+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership roles
- Strong operational plant finance background and understanding
- Strong understanding of union relations and demonstrated experience building relationships with union leadership
- Experience managing large manufacturing and engineering projects
- Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, grow and maintain a skilled engineering team
- Fluent with Lean manufacturing principles
- Strong communication skills across all organizational levels
- Ability to take ownership of cross-functional program deliverables and drive company-benefit decisions
- BS Engineering (IE, ME or EE) or equivalent
- Six Sigma certification with strong knowledge of LEAN, DMAIC, workout and other change mechanisms
- Demonstrated leadership responsibility in a union manufacturing environment
- Lean Manufacturing implementation experience
GE Appliances Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about GE Appliances and has not been reviewed or approved by GE Appliances.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Health insurance and on-site wellness resources are presented as strong aspects of total rewards, with medical, dental, vision, and mental health support seen as valuable inclusions.
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Retirement Support — Retirement Support: The 401(k) with company matching is highlighted as a solid pillar of compensation, reinforcing long-term financial security for many roles.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Leave & Time Off Breadth: Paid time off, holidays, sick time, volunteer time, and paid parental leave provide a broad leave framework that adds meaningful value beyond base pay.
GE Appliances Insights
What We Do
GE Appliances, a Haier company and Affiliates (GEA), is more than a place to work. We imagine, design and build some of the world's best appliances. Our people strive to improve themselves, the company and the community—building challenging and rewarding careers along the way. We value diversity, teamwork, innovation and lean manufacturing. We work with some of the best people in the world who take pride in our products and thrive on challenges. More than a place to work, it is a place of opportunity, a place to grow and a place to develop your career.
