Job Description:
Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Bird Johnson - Walpole, MA
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead and develop our manufacturing engineering team at Bird Johnson Walpole. As the Technical Authority, you will ensure production methods consistently deliver products that meet design intent. You will provide technical support to operations, guaranteeing manufacturing capabilities align with Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery Rate, and Leadtime requirements—all while driving innovation and operational excellence.
Key Accountabilities:
- Ensure all manufacturing processes and methods fully comply with Health, Safety & Environmental Standards and support the Zero Harm program.
- Develop and implement strategies to deploy the Product Safety Management System within your area of accountability.
- Foster a culture of Right First Time (RFT) manufacturing across the organization.
- Specify manufacturing engineering and process requirements; make technical decisions aligned with business needs.
- Lead, develop, and train the manufacturing engineering team to meet these requirements.
- Govern and prioritize improvements and innovations in manufacturing processes within your area.
- Integrate Manufacturing Technology, Digital Manufacturing, and Product Introduction activities to align with Manufacturing and Supply Chain strategies.
- Establish mechanisms to govern the achievement of Manufacturing Engineering deliverables, report status, and ensure resolution of issues and risks to meet project timelines.
- Manage manufacturing engineering workload, capacity planning, and budgets effectively.
- Implementing lights-out manufacturing on some of the latest 5-axis machine technology.
Basic Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience
- Proven experience leading significant projects across various manufacturing engineering processes.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
Preferred Requirements:
- Master’s degree in Engineering with 6+ years of manufacturing engineering experience
- Experience managing complex manufacturing changes such as facility redesign, capital investments, technology insertion, new product introductions, or process revalidation.
- Demonstrated leadership skills providing technical and professional guidance to engineering teams.
- Experience collaborating with program managers to develop accurate and competitive quotes for upcoming projects, ensuring alignment of technical requirements, cost estimates, and schedules.
- Strong customer interface and stakeholder management experience.
- Experience working with defense mil-spec products.
- Experience implementing digital manufacturing solutions.
- Track record of delivering improved operational performance under varying conditions, utilizing cross-functional teams.
- Experience with complex 5-axis machining, welding, and large assemblies in a high mix–low volume environment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience
- Experience leading significant projects across various manufacturing engineering processes
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- Master's degree in Engineering
- 6+ years of manufacturing engineering experience
- Experience managing complex manufacturing changes, including facility redesign, capital investments, technology insertion, new product introductions, or process revalidation
- Leadership experience providing technical and professional guidance to engineering teams
- Experience collaborating with program managers on technical requirements, cost estimates, schedules, and project quotes
- Customer interface and stakeholder management experience
- Experience with defense mil-spec products
- Experience implementing digital manufacturing solutions
- Record of improving operational performance using cross-functional teams
- Experience with complex 5-axis machining, welding, and large assemblies in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing
What We Do
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) designs, builds, maintains, and services naval power and propulsion systems for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard. It supplies marine technologies, OEM parts, and turnkey services, and rapidly supports the systems that power military fleets. Its engineers, sailors, and technicians support critical naval operations and mission readiness in both peacetime and conflict.
