Senior Group Leader - Maintenance and Manufacturing Engineering

Senior Group Leader – Maintenance & Manufacturing Engineering will lead the maintenance, tooling and manufacturing engineering teams within a high-volume deep draw and stamping manufacturing environment specializing in stainless steel components. This leader is responsible for ensuring the reliability of production equipment, driving capital projects, leading cost reduction initiatives, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, & OTHER DUTIES

Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead and mentor group leaders and manufacturing engineers, providing strategic direction, technical guidance, and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative team culture that prioritizes safety, innovation, and efficiency.
• Conduct regular team meetings to align on priorities, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes.
• Develop talent by identifying training needs, offering coaching, and creating opportunities for skill enhancement.

Maintenance Leadership & Equipment Reliability:

• Ensure all stamping presses, deep draw equipment, automation, and support systems operate at peak efficiency.
• Implement predictive and preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime and improve equipment longevity.
• Lead root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and problem-solving initiatives to eliminate chronic equipment failures.
• Develop and manage the maintenance budget, including spare parts inventory and capital expenditures for equipment upgrades.
• Collaborate with operations and quality teams to troubleshoot and resolve equipment and process issues.

Tool Room & Tool & Die Responsibilities:

• Manage the repair, modification, and preventive maintenance of dies and tooling to maximize uptime and product quality.
• Work closely with engineering and production teams to develop new tooling solutions, implement die improvements, and optimize stamping performance.
• Drive continuous improvement projects in tool design and manufacturing, utilizing CAD/CAM and CNC machining where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with tool room safety standards, best practices, and industry regulations.
• Manufacturing Engineering & Process Improvement:
• Drive cost reduction initiatives, including process optimization, scrap reduction, and cycle time improvements.
• Lead the development and execution of capital projects for new equipment, facility upgrades, and automation integration.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen principles to enhance efficiency and eliminate waste.
• Develop standardized work procedures and best practices for deep draw and stamping operations.
• Partner with design and quality teams to improve manufacturability and ensure product quality.

Capital Projects & Technology Advancement:

• Lead capital project planning and execution, ensuring alignment with business objectives, cost controls, and timelines.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies, automation, and Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance production capabilities.
• Manage vendor relationships for new equipment purchases, installations, and upgrades.
• Safety, Compliance & Sustainability:
• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA and company safety policies.
• Maintain regulatory compliance with environmental, safety, and quality standards (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, etc.).
• Implement energy efficiency and waste reduction initiatives to drive sustainability in manufacturing operations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

• Work closely with operations, supply chain, and quality teams to align manufacturing engineering and maintenance strategies with business needs.
• Act as a technical liaison between maintenance, production, and senior leadership to drive alignment and problem resolution.
• Provide regular updates on key metrics, projects, and performance improvements to leadership teams.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises Group Leaders for maintenance & tooling and manufacturing engineers.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Minimal travel required (<10%), primarily for vendor visits, equipment sourcing, and industry events.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 5 years of experience in a technical leadership role within a manufacturing environment, preferably in deep draw and stamping.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Strong expertise in maintenance strategies (predictive, preventive, and reliability-centered maintenance).
• Experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, and automation integration.
• Proven experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process optimization.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, utilizing methodologies such as 8D, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and FMEA.
• Ability to manage budgets, cost-down initiatives, and ROI-driven decision-making.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and maintenance management software (CMMS).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in stainless steel deep draw stamping and familiarity with hydraulic and mechanical presses.
• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher), and Maintenance Reliability.
• Experience working with robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0 technologies.

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS

Treat all people with Respect – People matter. Understand your audience and your impact. We are better when people are heard and valued for their unique perspective.

Take Ownership – People are counting on you. Act with integrity and follow through on commitments.

Empower Action – We succeed when we work together. Our differences make us stronger and create better outcomes. People and teams are empowered to make decisions and take action.

Commitment to Stakeholders – We are committed to knowing and exceeding the expectations of our customers, employees, ownership and communities.

Life Beyond Work – People need balance.  Embrace opportunities to pursue your passions.