Manufacturing Engineer – Digitization, Automation & Lean Transformation

Overview

This role calls for proactive Manufacturing Engineers to act as hands-on transformation leaders within EMEA plants. Combining Industrial Engineering techniques, on-floor Kaizen practices, Lean Operating System rollouts, practical digitization, and focused automation, the position aims to increase capacity, stabilize production ramp-ups, and ensure verifiable business benefits. Measurable KPI enhancement and established standards at the Gemba are key success indicators.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate current digital maturity and develop site-specific digitization strategies aligned with operational priorities and critical business needs.
• Implement or aid deployment of MES, electronic work instructions, real-time dashboards, digital standard work, and electronic quality control systems.
• Enable IoT device connectivity and data acquisition to enhance shopfloor transparency and operational decision-making.
• Define clear data ownership, governance, and daily routines fostering execution-focused digital tool use.
• Identify automation opportunities with structured financial analyses including ROI, NPV, IRR, applying a 12% discount rate when relevant.
• Support design, commissioning, and handover of automation projects involving robotics, cobots, material handling automation, fixtures, testing automation, and vision systems.
• Lead or assist throughout the automation CapEx lifecycle including validation, operator training, and post-launch stabilization.
• Document lessons learned and contribute to creating standardized automation protocols for EMEA-wide replication.
• Conduct time studies, work measurements, line balancing, takt and capacity planning, labor optimization, and material flow improvements.
• Lead Kaizen events on the shopfloor to identify improvement scopes, facilitate workshops, implement solutions, and ensure sustainability.
• Translate operational goals like capacity uplift, cost reduction, lead time and quality improvements into actionable charters with timelines and ownership.
• Deploy core Lean systems such as 5S, standard work, visual management, Tier meetings, leader standard work, value stream mapping, daily management system, and structured problem-solving methods.
• Utilize problem-solving frameworks including A3, 8D, PDCA, DMAIC, 5-Why, fishbone diagrams, and Pareto analysis to eliminate waste and prevent recurrence.
• Support ramp-up and stabilization of assembly and test lines by conducting readiness checks, removing bottlenecks, and controlling daily performance.
• Develop standard operating procedures, training resources, operator certification schemes, and clarify process ownership for new and updated workflows.
• Drive fast resolution of issues during product launches, transfers, new sites, or acquisitions to secure stable operations handover.
• Manage benefits tracking from baseline measurement to financial validation, coordinating with finance to confirm capacity, productivity, and savings figures.
• Coach site engineers, supervisors, and operators on new work methods fostering ongoing ownership and sustainability of improvements.
• Engage constructively with stakeholders across functions and plants to surmount resistance, communicate project progress, and influence leadership without direct authority.

Success Measures within 12 Months

• Complete digital and industrial engineering maturity assessments for assigned plants, with prioritized roadmaps endorsed.
• Deliver multiple Kaizen or flow-improvement events producing validated capacity, productivity, cost, quality, or lead-time gains.
• Implement foundational Lean Operating System elements such as Tier meetings, visual management, standard work, and practical, sustained problem solving.
• Launch one or two digital and automation pilots fully business-cased, achieving targeted ROI, NPV, or IRR.
• Realize measurable improvements in at least three key KPIs relating to productivity, capacity, quality, delivery, safety, inventory accuracy, cost, or lead-time.

Why Join

• Opportunity to build operational systems and capabilities afresh in a fast-growing EMEA manufacturing network.
• Hands-on role with direct influence across multiple plants within a multi-billion-dollar growth trajectory.
• Autonomy to design, implement, and sustain solutions close to factory operations.
• Exposure to senior plant leadership and cross-functional teams across 10 sites.
• Prospects for career progression to operations leadership positions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years practical experience in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, Operational Excellence, Lean implementation, or process improvement in manufacturing.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable enhancements in capacity, productivity, cost reduction, lead times, quality losses, safety, or ramp-up outcomes.
• Strong foundation in Lean principles including standard work, line balancing, visual management, 5S, value stream mapping, Kaizen, and problem-solving directly at the Gemba.
• Experience with at least two of the following: MES systems, digital work instructions, production dashboards, automation or robotics, data acquisition, capacity modeling, Lean transformations, or daily management systems.
• Proactive, hands-on attitude, fluent in English, and ready to travel within EMEA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification, or equivalent leadership credentials in Lean initiatives.
• Background in multi-site transformation projects, consulting, automotive/Toyota Production System, mixed product/high volume manufacturing, greenfield projects, turnarounds, or acquisition integrations.
• Competence with industrial automation interfaces such as PLC/SCADA, industrial networking, digital twin simulations, advanced analytics, TPM, or dashboard technologies.
• Financial literacy to connect operational improvements with validated business cases and collaborate effectively with finance.
• Credible shopfloor leadership with capability to coach, apply data-driven insights pragmatically, and embed new standards sustainably.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Effective shopfloor leader capable of bridging strategic objectives with practical Gemba execution swiftly.
• Pragmatic problem solver with strong data focus who prioritizes implemented outcomes over theoretical presentations.
• Skilled coach able to foster ownership among plant teams and ensure long-term adoption of new practices.
• Highly accountable professional adept at collaborating across functions and locations without reliance on perfect conditions.

Initial Focus

• Engage geographically with 2-3 designated plants, collaborating extensively with Plant management, AME, Manufacturing Engineering, Automation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance teams.
• Prioritize impactful improvements tied to capacity enhancement, flow, labor productivity, digital maturity, ramp-up challenges, and cost reduction.
• Develop scalable standards, playbooks, and instructional content to facilitate roll-out across the EMEA manufacturing network.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an advocate of equal employment opportunities across diverse characteristics including but not limited to age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, and other protected groups. All facets of employment terms, mobility, training, pay, and workplace health are provided without discrimination.