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What is a principal manufacturing engineer and how to become one
As a principal manufacturing engineer, you will be responsible for performing engineering design and analysis and proposing solutions to complex problems. You'll identify, define, and direct the approach for the resolution of technical issues. You'll oversee and integrate complex technical projects involving multi-functional areas under established budget and schedule requirements. Additionally, you'll identify and recommend business growth opportunities. Also, you'll create procedures, processes, and methods for implementing technical requirements.
Employers seek candidates with at least a bachelor's degree in civil or mechanical engineering or any related field. Although you may need up to ten years of experience, you can get the job with five years of relevant experience. Candidates must be proficient in SolidWorks. You must possess analytical, multitasking, and problem-solving capabilities. Also, you must be conversant with basic principles, theories, concepts, and techniques. Principal manufacturing engineers are paid about $116,151 annually. Their salary falls between $94,000 and $144,000.
What general advice would you give to a principal manufacturing engineer?
Jerry Leth
VP/General Manager, MANA
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.
Avg. Salary $94,463
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.29%
Asian 17.20%
Black or African American 4.15%
Hispanic or Latino 10.35%
Unknown 4.70%
White 63.30%
Genderfemale 11.82%
male 88.18%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Principal manufacturing engineer career paths
Key steps to become a principal manufacturing engineer
Explore principal manufacturing engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific principal manufacturing engineer skills
Skills Percentages CAD 7.63% Continuous Improvement 7.45% Process Control 6.97% Product Quality 6.39% Project Management 5.07% Complete relevant principal manufacturing engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New principal manufacturing engineers 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 principal manufacturing engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real principal manufacturing engineer resumes.Research principal manufacturing engineer duties and responsibilities
- Lead the machining Kaizen that re-arrange five CNC machines and four work stations.
- Manage development and launch of on line QC system, and real time PC base SPC.
- Implement a KANBAN system for manufacturing which reduce wasteful production activities and achieve labor reductions.
- Audit suppliers towards conformance to ISO and CGMP requirements.
Get principal manufacturing engineer experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a principal manufacturing engineer. The most common roles before becoming a principal manufacturing engineer include manufacturing engineer, senior manufacturing engineer team lead and process engineer.Prepare your principal manufacturing engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your principal manufacturing engineer 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 principal manufacturing engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable principal manufacturing engineer resume templates
Build a professional principal manufacturing engineer 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 principal manufacturing engineer resume.
Apply for principal manufacturing engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a principal manufacturing engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first principal manufacturing engineer job
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Average principal manufacturing engineer salary
The average principal manufacturing engineer salary in the United States is $94,463 per year or $45 per hour. Principal manufacturing engineer salaries range between $72,000 and $122,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do principal manufacturing engineers rate their job?
Principal manufacturing engineer reviews
Improve 5's & increase productivity, manpower reduction...n+/- concept..
Can be managed accordingly situation.
The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills
Stakeholders missing deadlines
Being on the field doing running inspections and learning from the technicians
Being expose to bad weather that compromise the safety of operations.
Updated January 8, 2025
