Engineering & Operations Manager

This leader will serve as the conduit between engineering design, production, supply chain, and field operations, driving continuous improvement in quality, cost, and delivery. This role is responsible for ensuring that products are engineered accurately, produced efficiently, and delivered/installed seamlessly for customers in the retail industry.

Job Description: Engineering Manager (Potential for Operational Role)
Location: Fort Worth, TX (On-site)
Position Overview
Company is seeking a hands-on Engineering & Operations Manager to lead the integration of product engineering, manufacturing operations, and integrated manufacturing execution. This role is responsible for ensuring that products are engineered accurately, produced efficiently, and delivered/installed seamlessly for customers in the retail industry.
This leader will serve as the conduit between engineering design, production, supply chain, and field operations, driving continuous improvement in quality, cost, and delivery.Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Product Execution

• Lead engineering efforts for transitioning new designs from one site to another (Program transfers)
• Translate customizations into manufacturable designs and BOMs
• Partner with global/parent engineering teams on product improvements and new innovations
• Standardize drawings, configurations, and engineering documentation, while evolving to industry best practices
• Ensure compliance with industry safety and compliance standards

Manufacturing & Operations Alignment

• Engage in day-to-day manufacturing operations, including fabrication, assembly, and QA
• Collaborate on continuous improvements and quality/reliability enhancements
• Implement lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste and improve margins
• Partner with supply chain on supplier qualification to ensure material availability and vendor performance

• Oversee project lifecycle from order intake through installation and closeout
• Coordinate with sales and customers on project scope, timelines, and execution
• Ensure projects are completed on time, on budget, and to quality standards

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the primary liaison between Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Field Services
• Build scalable processes as the company grows geographically and by product line
• Develop and mentor a small but high-performing technical  team and hold Team accountable

Continuous Improvement & Strategy

• Identify opportunities to improve product design for manufacturability
• Support new product introduction (NPI) and testing
• Contribute to operational strategy

Qualifications
Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or similar)
• 7–12+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or operations leadership
• Experience in custom manufacturing, industrial products, or refrigeration/HVAC systems
• Strong understanding of CAD, BOMs, and production processes
• Proven experience managing both shop floor operations and project execution
• Ability to operate in a hands-on, player-coach role

Preferred

• Experience with program transitions, New Product Introduction and BOM structures
• Familiarity with lean / Six Sigma methodologies
• ERP system experience (Sage, NetSuite, or similar)

Key Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and systems thinking
• Ability to balance engineering precision with operational speed
• High ownership mentality in a small/mid-sized company environment
• Customer-first mindset with field awareness
• Data-driven decision making

Success Metrics

• On-time project delivery and installation completion
• Reduction in manufacturing defects and rework
• Improved production throughput and labor efficiency
• Gross margin improvement via cost control and process optimization
• Customer satisfaction and repeat business