Manager – Manufacturing Engineering – Mexico NPI
About the role
Work Mode: Onsite, Juarez, Nuevo León
Opportunity
Leads NPI Manufacturing Engineering and the Model, Block, and Case (MBC) tooling department, providing people leadership, operational oversight, and system ownership for the Vitreous Development Management System (VDMS) to support NPD, CPD, and plant performance.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
People Leadership
Lead and develop Manufacturing Engineers, the MBC Supervisor, and the Supervisor of NPD Technicians and Casters.
Set goals and expectations; coach, provide feedback, and manage performance.
Build engagement, retention, and succession plans.
VDMS System Ownership & Governance
Own day-to-day execution of VDMS across NPD and CPD programs.
Ensure teams apply VDMS structure, targets, risk management, and escalation thresholds consistently.
Drive disciplined, timely execution through assigned engineers and project teams; escalate exceptions and lead improvements to usage and training.
Technical Accountability (Through Subordinates)
Ensure early manufacturing input and feasibility (tooling, equipment, process) to support industrialization.
Ensure risk identification/escalation and PFMEA development/maintenance are completed usingVDMS-defined processes.
Ensure cost, yield, and productivity models are developed and validated.
Ensure launch readiness and post-launch audits/lessons learned are completed and documented.
Model, Block, and Case (MBC) Tooling Department Oversight
Provide functional leadership for the MBC tooling department, aligned to NPD, CPD, and plant demand.
Delegate day-to-day execution to the MBC Supervisor while retaining accountability for capability, capacity, technical quality, and standards.
Continuous Improvement / Safety
Drive continuous improvement across Manufacturing Engineering and MBC in partnership with the MBC Supervisor.
Sustain 5S and standard work; eliminate waste to improve productivity.
Ensure compliance with all safety and EHS requirements.
Digital Transformation
Lead digital transformation across VDMS and MBC operations.
Identify and deploy tools that improve visibility and execution without adding administrative burden.
Capital, Capacity & Asset Strategy
Own capital strategy for Manufacturing Engineering and MBC.
Define capacity requirements aligned with NPD and CPD demand.
Partner with Operations and Finance to prioritize investments that improve safety, productivity, standardization, and long-term capability.
Plant Technical Support – Mexico
Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering point of contact for the Mexico plant.
Provide technical leadership for replacement tooling and High Pressure Cast tooling/mold improvements.
Support yield, productivity, and throughput improvement initiatives.
Coordinate Manufacturing Engineering and MBC resources to define and execute sustainable, standards-aligned solutions.
Skills/Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related field.
Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing engineering teams and/or tooling operations.
Demonstrated experience building, developing, and coaching engineering talent, including strengthening capability and performance in organizations with limited bench strength.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
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