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What is a manufacturing engineering manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Jerry Leth
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A manufacturing engineering manager oversees the development and enforcement of manufacturing processes for a company. You are to ensure the working together cohesively of the engineering team and other manufacturing departments. Your job duties include designing and operating integrated systems, developing equipment to aid in the manufacturing process, managing budgets, overseeing development projects, and approving equipment upgrades.

Additionally, you are to review, evaluate, and implement engineering changes and specification requirements. You are also in charge of the daily evaluation of the junior staff. Plus, you must also make sure that projects are met while adhering to the approved budget. The qualifications needed for a career as a manufacturing engineering manager are a bachelor's degree in an engineering field and at least five years of experience. You need to have teamwork skills and technical knowledge. You must also have strong leadership skills. Your average salary per year is $105,839.

What general advice would you give to a manufacturing engineering manager?

Jerry LethJerry Leth LinkedIn profile

VP/General Manager, MANA

We are the Manufacturers' Agents National Association, a trade association of independent manufacturers' representative businesses. We will address this question from that perspective.
To a recent college graduate, a question I pose is, "Am I going to be happier and more satisfied working for someone? Or would I be more satisfied if I embarked on a path that leads me to own my own business?"
If the answer is owning your own business, consider looking for employment as an outside salesperson for an existing manufacturers' representative business. Our average member employs six outside salespersons, and the largest employs 160. Starting out as an employee provides an opportunity to learn about the business while earning an income. When you are ready, many manufacturers' representative firms offer ownership opportunities to employees, or you may choose to move on and start your own business. Either way, you achieve your goal of owning and running your own business.
ScoreManufacturing Engineering ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.9

Avg. Salary $112,535

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 11.79%

Black or African American 3.08%

Hispanic or Latino 8.78%

Unknown 4.66%

White 71.53%

Gender

female 5.53%

male 94.47%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Manufacturing engineering manager career paths

Key steps to become a manufacturing engineering manager

  1. Explore manufacturing engineering manager education requirements

    Most common manufacturing engineering manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.7 %

    Master's

    15.3 %

    Associate

    11.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific manufacturing engineering manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Continuous Improvement9.26%
    Lean Manufacturing9.19%
    Project Management5.37%
    Sigma4.61%
    Lean Six Sigma3.74%
  3. Complete relevant manufacturing engineering manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manufacturing engineering managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a manufacturing engineering manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manufacturing engineering manager resumes.
  4. Research manufacturing engineering manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage engineering changes with product engineering on the introduction of new product launches using PFMA analysis and DFM principles.
    • Manage technical staff, work with marketing group to define research projects, define opportunity windows and establish schedules.
    • Lead facility design and layout to meet JIT principles and company's evolving quality system with SPC monitoring and reporting.
    • Manage and monitor machinery maintenance to comply with ISO preventive maintenance guidelines.
  5. Prepare your manufacturing engineering manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manufacturing engineering manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a manufacturing engineering manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable manufacturing engineering manager resume templates

    Build a professional manufacturing engineering manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manufacturing engineering manager resume.
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
    Manufacturing Engineering Manager Resume
  6. Apply for manufacturing engineering manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a manufacturing engineering manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first manufacturing engineering manager job

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Average manufacturing engineering manager salary

The average manufacturing engineering manager salary in the United States is $112,535 per year or $54 per hour. Manufacturing engineering manager salaries range between $81,000 and $155,000 per year.

Average manufacturing engineering manager salary
$112,535 Yearly
$54.10 hourly

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How do manufacturing engineering managers rate their job?

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Manufacturing engineering manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Improve 5's & increase productivity, manpower reduction...n+/- concept..

Cons

Can be managed accordingly situation.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills

Cons

Stakeholders missing deadlines


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

To maximize company's productivity,reducing wastes, avoiding un necessary costs,setting the proper work flow


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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