SENIOR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Newport News, VA | Onsite | Full-Time

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are partnering with a growing, private equity–backed manufacturer in Newport News, VA to place a Senior Manufacturing Engineer in a newly created role. This is a ground-floor opportunity to build the engineering function at a facility that produces custom protective garments for the healthcare industry.

If you're the type of engineer who walks a production floor and immediately sees what could be better — and then goes and fixes it — this role was built for you. You'll have direct access to leadership, a clear mandate, and no shortage of meaningful work from day one.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Own and improve manufacturing processes across the facility — time studies, flow analysis, Kaizen events, and standard work documentation

Troubleshoot and optimize key production equipment including CNC cutting tables and large-format fabric printing systems

Lead capital projects ($500K–$2.5M) from justification through installation and validation

Develop process specifications, work instructions, engineering masters, and machine programs to build a repeatable, documented production system

Vet, coordinate, and manage external contractors and equipment suppliers — you are the technical point of contact for outside parties on the floor

Partner with the MRP/ERP engineer on shop floor systems, routings, and production flow improvements

Support safety compliance for equipment installations and process changes

Apply lean principles — flow, pull, quality at the source — to drive measurable improvements in efficiency, yield, and cycle time

Identify high-impact opportunities and pursue them with a scientific, experiment-driven approach: document, test, validate, implement

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

3–5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience on a production floor — this is not a design or R&D role

ERP/MRP experience; comfortable working within a system and understanding how BOMs, routings, and work orders connect

Basic CAD/drafting literacy — enough to communicate fabrication needs to suppliers and verify their output

Hands-on lean experience: standard work, 5S, Kaizen, time studies, flow analysis

Proven ability to manage capital projects end-to-end

Self-directed and able to prioritize — there is plenty of work; you need to find the right problems and execute without constant oversight

Mechanical, electrical, or industrial background all considered — we need range, not a single specialty

NICE TO HAVE

CNC cutting system experience (Gerber or similar)

Medical device or regulated manufacturing background

Sewn goods or soft goods production experience

ISO quality system familiarity

PLC or automation experience

WHY THIS ROLE

Newly created position — you are building the engineering discipline, not stepping into someone else's mold

Strong executive support and direct access to leadership

Clear growth path: individual contributor today, with the potential to build a team over time

A company that values scientific thinking, lean principles, and continuous improvement — not just talk

Stable, growing organization with a long track record of acquisition and integration