Engineering Manager

Job Title: Engineering ManagerJob Description

The Engineering Manager leads the full manufacturing operation for a corrugated and converting facility, ensuring that engineering and production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and in line with customer requirements. This role oversees multiple production departments and shifts, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and builds a culture of accountability, communication, and operational excellence across the plant.

Responsibilities

• Ensure engineering and production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and according to customer requirements.

• Oversee corrugated and converting operations, including the corrugator, rotary die cutters, flexo folder gluers, specialty folder gluers, printing equipment, finishing equipment, and related material-handling processes.

• Monitor daily production performance, including machine utilization, throughput, uptime, waste, labor efficiency, and schedule attainment, and take action to address gaps.

• Coordinate engineering and production priorities with Engineering, Scheduling, Customer Service, Material Planning, Shipping, Maintenance, Quality, and Sales to align resources and meet customer commitments.

• Ensure jobs are properly staffed, staged, set up, inspected, and completed according to production and quality requirements.

• Establish clear operating expectations and maintain accountability for production results on all shifts.

• Lead daily production meetings to communicate operational priorities, risks, and performance results.

• Ensure effective shift handoffs and communication between supervisors and departments so that priorities and issues are clearly understood.

• Oversee in-process inspections, first-piece approvals, production sample requirements, final inspections, and quality documentation to maintain consistent product quality.

• Ensure supervisors and operators complete all required quality checks accurately and at the proper frequency.

• Collaborate with Material Planning, Scheduling, Purchasing, Customer Service, and Shipping to ensure materials are available to support production requirements.

• Monitor inventory of paper, sheets, inks, adhesives, tooling, packaging materials, and other production-related items to support uninterrupted operations.

• Investigate inventory discrepancies, material shortages, incorrect consumption, damage, obsolete inventory, and excess inventory, and implement corrective actions.

• Ensure cycle counts and physical inventory activities are completed accurately and on schedule.

• Support product identification, lot control, traceability, FIFO practices, and inventory record accuracy.

• Maintain responsibility for safe operational practices across all production departments and shifts.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements, company safety policies, machine guarding, PPE, Lockout/Tagout, forklift safety, chemical handling, and emergency procedures.

• Lead operational improvement initiatives focused on increasing throughput, uptime, machine utilization, labor productivity, quality, and schedule attainment.

• Work closely with the Continuous Improvement Manager to identify bottlenecks and implement sustainable process improvements.

• Apply Lean Manufacturing, 5S, visual management, standard work, root-cause analysis, and setup-reduction principles to drive continuous improvement.

• Establish performance baselines and measurable improvement targets, and track progress against them.

• Ensure consistent operating standards, rules, expectations, and accountability across every shift and department.

• Review daily staffing requirements and adjust labor based on production demand, employee availability, and operational priorities.

• Ensure supervisors conduct effective pre-shift meetings and communicate safety, quality, schedule, and performance expectations to their teams.

• Conduct regular floor walks on all shifts to verify execution, observe operations firsthand, and maintain visibility with employees.

• Coach supervisors on leadership, employee relations, performance management, documentation, and conflict resolution to drive a culture of accountability and open communication.

• Address attendance, conduct, performance, and policy concerns in coordination with Human Resources, ensuring consistent and fair application of policies.

• Identify employee training needs and ensure operators are properly qualified and trained before working independently.

• Support succession planning, cross-training, employee development, and shift-growth requirements to build a strong and flexible workforce.

• Promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and consistent communication throughout the facility.

• Support and participate in customer, ISO, SQF, and regulatory audits as needed, ensuring readiness and compliance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Technology, or a related discipline preferred.

• A minimum of seven years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.

• At least five years of direct experience in corrugated manufacturing, corrugated converting, printing, or packaging.

• Previous responsibility for multiple production departments and multiple shifts.

• Demonstrated experience managing supervisors, leads, and production employees.

• Strong working knowledge of corrugated equipment, production processes, materials, tooling, printing, gluing, die cutting, folding, finishing, and material handling.

• Experience with production scheduling, inventory control, labor planning, quality systems, and performance management.

• Working knowledge of SQF requirements applicable to food-packaging manufacturing.

• Experience working within an ISO or similar Quality Management System (QMS), preferably with exposure to ISO audits.

• Experience supporting customer, ISO, SQF, and regulatory audits.

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and production-reporting systems.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for data analysis, reporting, and communication.

• Strong ability to analyze production data, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.

• Proven background in continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, operations management, and production management.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Formal training or practical experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma.

• Hands-on experience applying 5S, visual management, standard work, and setup reduction techniques in a manufacturing environment.

• Strong operations and production management skills with the ability to balance safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with Engineering, Scheduling, Customer Service, Material Planning, Shipping, Maintenance, Quality, and Sales.

• Strong communication and leadership skills to influence at all levels of the organization and drive culture change.

• Ability to coach and develop supervisors and frontline leaders in performance management, employee relations, and conflict resolution.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and tight deadlines.

• Strategic mindset with the ability to establish performance baselines, set measurable improvement targets, and track results over time.

Work Environment

This role oversees the entire manufacturing operation in a corrugated and converting facility that runs across multiple departments and shifts. You will work closely with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and customer-facing teams in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment. The operation utilizes corrugators, rotary die cutters, flexo folder gluers, specialty folder gluers, printing equipment, finishing equipment, and associated material-handling systems, supported by ERP/MRP and production-reporting systems. The facility operates with a strong focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement, following OSHA, SQF, and ISO-related requirements and practices such as Lean manufacturing and 5S. You will spend significant time on the production floor conducting floor walks, observing operations, and engaging with employees on all shifts, while also participating in regular production and cross-functional meetings. The organization is part of a growing industry driven by eCommerce and positions itself as an innovator and trendsetter, with patented product designs and a culture that values professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and ongoing operational excellence.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Elmwood Park, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $150000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Health, vision, dental, 401k, PTO and holiday

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elmwood Park,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 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 [email protected] 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.