Manufacturing Engineer Manager

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager at Amphenol Industrial Operations is responsible for leading and developing a team of Manufacturing/Process Engineers and Maintenance Technicians in a highly automated manufacturing environment. This position provides technical leadership for automated production equipment, manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, process improvements, new equipment installations, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role requires a strong hands-on understanding of automated assembly equipment, PLC-controlled machinery, robotics, sensors, vision systems, pneumatic systems, electrical/mechanical systems, and automated testing equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, coach, and develop Engineers and Maintenance Technicians, establishing priorities and ensuring adequate technical support for production.
• Lead engineering and maintenance support for highly automated manufacturing and assembly equipment.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership in troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, PLC, robotic, sensor, and automation-related equipment issues.
• Work with engineers and maintenance technicians to quickly diagnose equipment failures, identify root causes, and minimize production downtime.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs for automated production equipment.
• Monitor equipment performance, recurring failures, downtime, and reliability trends and implement corrective actions.
• Lead improvements to automated assembly processes to increase equipment uptime, cycle time, throughput, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Support programming, configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization of PLCs, HMIs, robotics, vision systems, sensors, servo systems, and other automated controls, as applicable.
• Lead the installation, commissioning, validation, and production launch of new automated manufacturing equipment.
• Partner with equipment manufacturers and automation integrators on equipment upgrades, troubleshooting, programming, and new equipment projects.
• Develop and improve manufacturing processes for solar connector assembly and related electromechanical products.
• Lead or support NPI, process validation, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, BOMs, ECNs, and production readiness.
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5 Why, fishbone analysis, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, waste reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate opportunities for additional automation, mistake-proofing, improved machine guarding, and process optimization.
• Partner with Production and Quality to resolve equipment and process-related quality issues.
• Support capital equipment projects, including equipment specifications, vendor selection, installation, qualification, and handoff to production.
• Maintain proper equipment, process, maintenance, and engineering documentation.
• Ensure engineering and maintenance activities comply with company safety, quality, and environmental requirements.

Required/Preferred Technical Experience:

• Experience supporting high-volume automated manufacturing equipment.
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills.
• Working knowledge of PLC-controlled equipment and HMIs.
• Experience with industrial robotics, servo motors/drives, sensors, machine vision systems, pneumatics, automated assembly systems, and automated testing equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, pneumatic diagrams, and equipment documentation.
• Experience troubleshooting automated equipment to determine whether failures are related to controls, electrical components, mechanical systems, sensors, tooling, or process conditions.
• Knowledge of preventive and predictive maintenance methods.
• Experience with OEE, equipment downtime analysis, MTBF, MTTR, and maintenance KPI tracking.
• Experience working with OEM equipment manufacturers and automation integrators.
• Knowledge of machine safety, guarding, and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) requirements.
• Experience in connector, cable, electrical component, automotive, solar, or other high-volume automated manufacturing strongly preferred.

Leadership Requirements

• Demonstrated experience managing engineers and skilled maintenance technicians.
• Ability to balance long-term engineering projects with immediate production and equipment-support needs.
• Strong ability to prioritize maintenance activities and engineering resources based on safety, production, quality, and downtime impacts.
• Ability to develop the technical capabilities of maintenance technicians and engineers through coaching, cross-training, and structured troubleshooting.
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 5–7+ years of manufacturing engineering, automation, or related manufacturing experience preferred.
• 3+ years of technical leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Previous experience managing or leading engineers and/or maintenance technicians.
• Significant experience supporting automated manufacturing equipment and production systems.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment troubleshooting, continuous improvement, and equipment reliability.
• Experience in high-volume automated assembly manufacturing strongly preferred.