Role Purpose

The Equipment Engineering Manager leads the plant's equipment engineering and maintenance organization to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of manufacturing equipment. This role is responsible for improving equipment performance, maximizing uptime, driving technical problem solving, and developing engineering and maintenance talent. The Equipment Engineering Manager partners closely with Operations, Quality, Process Engineering, and Manufacturing leadership to execute strategic initiatives, support production goals, and advance manufacturing excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop equipment engineering and maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability, capability, efficiency, and overall plant performance.
• Establish and execute equipment reliability strategies, preventive maintenance programs, and predictive maintenance practices.
• Manage the full lifecycle of manufacturing equipment, including specification, acquisition, installation, commissioning, maintenance, upgrades, and decommissioning.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to equipment failures, downtime, quality issues, and process disruptions.
• Develop equipment standards, maintenance procedures, and change management processes to ensure safe and effective equipment operation.
• Analyze equipment performance metrics and implement improvement initiatives to increase uptime, throughput, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Lead capital equipment projects, including business case development, vendor selection, procurement, installation, startup, and project closure.
• Manage equipment maintenance budgets, spare parts inventories, tooling expenditures, and contract services.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, engineering, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities (continued)

• Partner with manufacturing and engineering leaders to support new product introductions, technology transfers, process improvements, and capacity expansion projects.
• Mentor and develop technical talent while building organizational capability in equipment engineering, maintenance, and reliability disciplines.
• Champion continuous improvement methodologies including Lean, Six Sigma, AME, KT, and other operational excellence tools.
• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction to support short-term operational goals and long-term business objectives.
• Prepare and present performance updates, capital plans, and engineering recommendations to plant leadership.
• Perform other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned in support of site and business objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8-10 years of manufacturing experience, including progressive engineering or maintenance leadership responsibility.
• Minimum 2 years of second-level leadership experience.
• Experience managing equipment engineering, reliability, maintenance, or manufacturing engineering organizations.
• Demonstrated success improving equipment performance, reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
• Experience leading capital equipment projects and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical problem-solving skills.
• Budget development and management experience.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing excellence methodologies and reliability practices.
• Strong communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across functions and organizational levels.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in solar, semiconductor, electronics, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Extensive project management experience.
• Knowledge of predictive maintenance and reliability-centered maintenance methodologies.
• Experience leading organizations in a matrixed environment.
• Proven track record of developing high-performing technical teams.