Job Title: Director of Manufacturing Engineering
Job Description
This role leads a multi-functional manufacturing engineering organization with a strong focus on people leadership, team development, and operational excellence. The Director of Manufacturing Engineering builds and develops a team of engineers and technicians, sets the strategic direction for the department, and drives performance across all manufacturing engineering operations, including oversight of a small machine shop and tooling function. The position requires a leader who balances technical credibility with strong coaching, business acumen, and the ability to structure, develop, and align the team to meet production, quality, and strategic business goals in a highly regulated environment.
Responsibilities
Lead and manage a manufacturing engineering team of approximately 15 employees, including manufacturing engineers, tooling and machine shop personnel, technicians, and an additional open role.
Allocate engineering resources effectively and prioritize work across multiple programs to meet production and customer demands.
Drive team performance by setting clear expectations, creating accountability, and building capability within the organization.
Establish the vision, structure, and operating rhythm for the manufacturing engineering department to support both near-term production needs and long-term strategic objectives.
Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including production and other business functions, to support customer needs in a regulated, quality-driven environment.
Oversee capital planning activities and contribute to broader business strategy, ensuring investments support operational and strategic goals.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization efforts, leveraging lean and Six Sigma methodologies where appropriate.
Develop, maintain, and regularly update a skills matrix for the team, and create talent development plans to support growth and succession.
Build, coach, and develop team members by assessing strengths and weaknesses, providing feedback, and aligning roles to maximize effectiveness.
Set direction with confidence, make timely decisions, and lead through others rather than acting as a hands-on individual contributor.
Create a collaborative, high-performance culture that emphasizes urgency, ownership, and accountability in a fast-paced environment.
Own the manufacturing engineering function end-to-end, making informed decisions without excessive reliance on executive validation.
Apply strong root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies to address production and quality issues.
Manage project budgets and ensure resources are used effectively to support manufacturing and business objectives.
Essential Skills
3-5+ years of strong people leadership experience managing teams in an engineering or manufacturing environment.
Manufacturing engineering background in a regulated, quality-driven environment such as aerospace, defense, or other compliance-focused industries.
Proven ability to perform root cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions.
Solid business acumen, including experience with capital planning and big-picture strategic thinking.
Demonstrated experience allocating resources and leading through others rather than acting as a hands-on individual contributor.
Experience working within aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering (required).
Approximately 8-10 years of engineering experience with clear progression into leadership roles.
Industry experience in highly regulated, compliance-driven environments with a strong focus on quality and process control.
Demonstrated job stability and a track record of long-term impact in prior roles.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence, set direction, and drive decision-making.
Proven ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining a high level of urgency and ownership.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Master's degree in Engineering or a related field (preferred).
Composites manufacturing experience.
Aerospace or advanced manufacturing background; medical device experience is also considered relevant.
Lean and continuous improvement expertise, with Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.
Familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA.
Experience using basic statistical tools, such as Minitab, for data analysis and process improvement.
Leadership development experience, including coaching and mentoring engineering and technical staff.
Experience managing project budgets and supporting broader business strategy in an engineering @context.
Work Environment
The role operates within a fast-paced, highly regulated manufacturing environment that emphasizes quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. The Director leads a multi-functional engineering organization that supports production operations and oversees a small machine shop and tooling function. The culture values strong communication, clear direction, and collaborative leadership, with a focus on building trust, accountability, and a high-performance mindset. The position requires comfort with an evolving environment, a strong sense of urgency, and ownership of outcomes. The role offers a 9/80 work schedule and eligibility for an annual bonus, reflecting a commitment to work-life balance and performance-based rewards.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of San Diego, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $190000.00 - $210000.00/yr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 3, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
