Manufacturing Engineering Manager in St. Helens at Gentex Corporation

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Haydock Based (Frequent Travel) £60K-75K, Pension + Benefits Package

Gentex is a global technology company with a reputation for engineering excellence and innovation across demanding and highly regulated markets. We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead engineering operations across Europe. Reporting to the Senior Operations Director, you will drive manufacturing excellence across industrialisation, automation, CAPEX, facilities and continuous improvement, improving safety, quality, productivity and cost while developing a high-performing engineering team.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the Manufacturing Engineering team, setting clear objectives, priorities and technical standards aligned with business strategy.
• Establish engineering governance and standardisation across Gentex Europe, building capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning and performance management.
• Own manufacturing process definition, including routings, layouts, standard work, cycle times, work instructions and process controls.
• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, equipment utilisation, labour efficiency and factory flow using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 6S, value stream mapping and structured root cause analysis.
• Provide technical leadership to resolve process, tooling, equipment and manufacturing issues through robust, permanent corrective actions.
• Lead Manufacturing Engineering input into CAPEX projects, from technical specification and supplier engagement through installation, commissioning and benefit realisation.
• Lead NPI and industrialisation activity, ensuring design for manufacture, process validation, tooling readiness, pilot builds, operator training and production handover are completed successfully.
• Define and manage tooling, fixtures, gauges, production equipment and automation requirements throughout their lifecycle, identifying opportunities to deploy advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Lead the Facilities and Maintenance function across Gentex Europe, ensuring buildings, utilities, site services and production infrastructure operate safely, reliably, compliantly and cost-effectively.
• Lead engineering support for product transfers, facility projects and major operational transformation, ensuring manufacturing knowledge, documentation, process capability and operator readiness are established before transfer.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement and global stakeholders to deliver engineering changes, validation, technical problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Ensure manufacturing engineering activity complies with health, safety, environmental, quality and regulatory requirements, including PFMEA, validation, risk assessment and change control.

Essential Requirements for the Manufacturing Engineering Manager:

• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant Manufacturing Engineering leadership experience within a complex technical manufacturing environment.
• A strong track record of improving safety, quality, productivity, cost, process capability and operational performance.
• Experience leading NPI, industrialisation, process validation and manufacturing improvement programmes.
• Demonstrable experience delivering CAPEX projects, factory layout changes and manufacturing transformation initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of tooling, equipment, automation, factory flow and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience leading and developing engineering teams through coaching and performance management.
• Strong commercial awareness, data analysis and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance immediate operational priorities and longer-term strategy.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence from the shop floor to senior leadership across international and cross-functional teams.
• Competence with Microsoft Office, ERP/MRP systems and CAD, together with the ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, BOMs, routings and manufacturing documentation.

What Will Help Our Manufacturing Engineering Manager Succeed

We would particularly welcome experience in:

• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or project management qualifications.
• IOSH, NEBOSH or an equivalent health and safety qualification.
• SAP or a similar ERP platform.
• Defence, aerospace, automotive, composites, plastics or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Facilities, maintenance, robotics, digital manufacturing or international manufacturing projects.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager position is well suited to someone who is:

• a visible, hands-on technical leader who combines shop-floor credibility with strategic thinking
• comfortable leading through ambiguity and organisational change
• bring a collaborative, accountable approach and a genuine commitment to developing people, continuous improvement and technical excellence