Lead Manufacturing Engineer
Jabil · Memphis
At Jabil (NYSE: JBL), we are proud to be a trusted partner for the world's top brands, offering comprehensive engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions. With 60 years of experience across industries and a vast network of over 100 sites worldwide, Jabil combines global reach with local expertise to deliver both scalable and customized solutions. Our commitment extends beyond business success as we strive to build sustainable processes that minimize environmental impact and foster vibrant and diverse communities around the globe.Join Jabil as a technical leader responsible for the design, industrialization, validation, and continuous improvement of large-form mechanical manufacturing processes. This role serves as the Manufacturing Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) for fastening systems, assembly fixtures, production tooling, mechanical automation, and complex assembly operations. The position partners closely with Operations, Quality, Design Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and EHS to support New Product Introduction (NPI), production ramp-up, and sustaining operations.
How will you make an impact?
As the Lead Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer, you will drive the development of safe, repeatable, and scalable manufacturing processes for complex mechanical assemblies. You will lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), PFMEA activities, tooling and fixture development, fastening strategies, process validation, and automation initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, ergonomics, and overall operational effectiveness. Your technical expertise and leadership will directly influence manufacturing reliability, product quality, and production readiness.
What will you do?
- Lead the development, review, and maintenance of manufacturing documentation including work instructions, assembly drawings, exploded views, torque specifications, SOPs, bills of materials, and process flow documents.
- Conduct DFM and DFA reviews during NPI to optimize product designs for manufacturability, serviceability, ergonomics, and quality.
- Develop and maintain PFMEA documentation and structured risk assessments for mechanical assembly processes.
- Establish and standardize fastening strategies, including fastener selection, torque methods, tool validation, error-proofing, traceability, and failure prevention.
- Analyze tolerance stack-ups and GD&T requirements to prevent assembly fit-up challenges, structural misalignment, and leakage concerns.
- Lead the design, procurement, commissioning, and lifecycle management of fixtures, jigs, ergonomic aids, lifting devices, poka-yoke systems, and special production tooling.
- Convert complex engineering drawings into operator-friendly manufacturing instructions and standardized assembly procedures.
- Optimize mechanical build sequences to improve safety, ergonomics, takt time performance, and labor efficiency.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to implement automation solutions and improve manufacturing flow, station balance, and defect reduction.
- Provide hands-on troubleshooting support for assembly issues involving fit-up, stress concentration, vibration, leaks, structural integrity, and rework reduction.
- Develop equipment specifications, validation plans, acceptance criteria, and support supplier reviews, FAT/SAT activities, installation, and production handoff.
- Ensure engineering change control and documentation discipline throughout NPI, ramp, and sustaining phases.
- Lead continuous improvement and capital projects focused on tooling upgrades, fastening controls, automation, safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.
- Identify opportunities to improve product robustness, reduce warranty risk, and lower total cost of ownership.
- Serve as a technical mentor and escalation point for manufacturing engineers and technicians.
- Represent Manufacturing Engineering during leadership reviews, customer discussions, supplier engagements, audits, and technical escalations.
How will you get here?
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Experience
- Minimum 7 years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience supporting mechanical assembly, industrial equipment, automation, tooling, or related environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading DFM/DFA initiatives and manufacturing process optimization projects.
- Experience developing and maintaining PFMEA documentation and mechanical risk mitigation plans.
- Strong experience interpreting mechanical drawings, GD&T requirements, tolerance stack-up analyses, and complex assembly documentation.
- Hands-on expertise with fastening systems, torque-controlled assembly, smart tooling, validation, traceability, and failure analysis.
- Experience developing, commissioning, and sustaining manufacturing fixtures, jigs, ergonomic aids, special tooling, and automated/semi-automated assembly equipment.
- Experience supporting NPI launches, production ramps, and sustaining manufacturing operations.
- Experience leading complex manufacturing projects and providing technical leadership within cross-functional teams.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of large-scale mechanical assembly processes and structural integration practices.
- Strong understanding of GD&T principles, tolerance analysis, and stack-up risk mitigation.
- Expertise in fastening systems, torque strategies, gasket and sealing systems, piping and hose routing, and structural alignment techniques.
- In-depth knowledge of torque fundamentals including clamp load, torque sequencing, thread engagement, joint integrity, and failure prevention.
- Hands-on experience with smart torque tools, programming, validation, traceability, and manufacturing integration.
- Proficiency with CAD systems such as SolidWorks, Creo, AutoCAD, or similar platforms.
- Advanced fixture and tooling design experience, including datum strategies, locating and clamping principles, ergonomics, accessibility, maintainability, and safety considerations.
- Strong understanding of mechanical automation including actuators, end effectors, sensors, machine guarding, process validation, and equipment integration.
- Knowledge of mechanical failure modes such as fatigue, vibration, stress concentration, pressure containment, and leak path analysis.
- Proficiency in lean manufacturing principles and elimination of non-value-added activities.
- Strong root cause analysis and structured problem-solving skills utilizing methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, and A3.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills within fast-paced manufacturing environments.
- Ability to successfully manage multiple priorities, capital projects, suppliers, technical reviews, and engineering workstreams simultaneously.
- Proven capability to mentor engineers and technicians while driving technical excellence and accountability.
- Working knowledge of applicable industry and safety standards including OSHA, ISO, ASME, and related manufacturing standards.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting large-form mechanical assemblies and high-mix manufacturing environments.
- Experience implementing automation and advanced assembly technologies.
- Prior leadership experience directing engineering resources across NPI and production environments.
- Experience with production tooling validation, equipment commissioning, and process capability improvement initiatives.
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification preferred.
What Can Jabil Offer You?
At Jabil, we believe in continuous innovation and operational excellence. The Lead Manufacturing Mechanical Engineer will have the opportunity to shape advanced mechanical manufacturing solutions, from fastening strategies and production tooling to purpose-built fixtures and automation systems. This role offers significant technical leadership exposure on large-scale manufacturing initiatives that improve reliability, safety, quality, and efficiency. We foster a collaborative environment where diverse ideas are valued, technical expertise is strengthened, and career growth is supported through mentorship, ownership, and meaningful project impact.
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