AME & Project Leader

AME & Project Leader

Job Title: AME Leader & Project Leader – Industrial Equipment Manufacturing

Role Overview

The AME (Advanced Manufacturing Engineering) Leader & Project Leader is a strategic manufacturing leadership role responsible for driving plant transformation, digitalization, new product industrialization, and capital project execution.

The role provides end-to-end leadership across strategy, technology, operations, and execution, acting as the Plant Operations Lead for New Product Development (NPD) while ensuring excellence in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction.

This position plays a critical role in enabling Industry 4.0 adoption, facility expansion, productivity improvements, and cross-functional alignment in a complex industrial manufacturing environment.

Strategic Scope & Impact

• Lead plant-wide strategic initiatives including footprint optimization, capacity expansion, and asset utilization
• Drive Industry 4.0 and digital transformation roadmap
• Oversee new product industrialization and manufacturing readiness
• Own Capex strategy, facility creation, and infrastructure upgrades (> $5M)
• Enable operational excellence across ETO, MTO, and MTS manufacturing models
• Influence global and regional manufacturing strategy through technology and process innovation

Key Accountabilities

1. Plant Transformation & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead execution of high-impact transformation programs across manufacturing operations
• Drive global/regional footprint projects and efficiency improvements
• Champion operational excellence and long-term plant competitiveness
• Act as central AME leader coordinating site-wide engineering initiatives

2. Industry 4.0 & Digital Manufacturing

• Lead implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions (IoT, MES, automation, connected shopfloor)
• Drive digitalization of processes including real-time monitoring and advanced analytics
• Implement predictive maintenance and digital performance tracking systems
• Develop smart factory capabilities and data-driven decision culture

3. New Product Development (NPD) & Industrialization

• Act as Plant Operations Lead for NPD, ensuring full production readiness
• Lead transition from design to scalable manufacturing
• Ensure deployment of:
• DFM/DFA
• DFT
• Design standardization
• 3P & Barashi
• Deliver on-time, cost-effective, high-quality product launches

4. Technology Deployment & Manufacturing Excellence

• Identify and deploy advanced manufacturing technologies and automation solutions
• Lead introduction of new processes, tools, fixtures, and equipment
• Benchmark global best practices and build technology roadmap

5. Process Improvement & Shopfloor Excellence

• Drive continuous process improvements across manufacturing operations
• Develop and embed standard work practices
• Provide hands-on support to resolve daily operator assembly and test issues
• Implement innovative, cost-effective Kaizen solutions
• Improve ergonomics, cycle time, and operator productivity

6. Quality, Poka-Yoke & Customer Focus

• Implement Poka-Yoke (error-proofing) systems to eliminate defects
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) using structured methodologies (8D, DMAIC)
• Drive customer complaint resolution with sustainable corrective actions
• Improve first-pass yield, field performance, and customer satisfaction

7. Capex, Facility Development & Infrastructure

• Own and manage Capex planning and execution (> $5M)
• Lead:
• New facility creation and expansions
• Facility modifications and upgrade projects
• Production line setup and layout optimization
• Ensure structured governance through stage-gate and control processes

8. Test Cell Development & Validation

• Lead test cell setup, validation, and upgrades
• Ensure compliance with product performance, validation, and regulatory requirements
• Integrate test infrastructure with digital data systems

9. Compliance, Validation & EHS

• Ensure process validation and regulatory compliance
• Drive Zero Harm safety culture and EHS excellence
• Support sustainability initiatives aligned with long-term goals

10. Operational Excellence & Lean Transformation

• Lead Lean initiatives using:
• Value Stream Mapping
• Kaizen
• Standard Work
• Visual Management
• Structured problem solving
• Drive improvements in productivity, cost, quality, and delivery

11. Product & Manufacturing Model Expertise

• Operate effectively across:
• Engineered-to-Order (ETO)
• Make-to-Order (MTO)
• Make-to-Stock (MTS)
• Align manufacturing and supply chain strategies based on product complexity and demand variability
• Enable seamless integration across mixed production environments

12. Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and develop 20+ team members (direct: 5+)
• Drive collaboration across:
• Supply Chain
• Production
• Quality
• NPD Teams
• EHS
• Ensure alignment toward plant and business objectives
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and teamwork
• Lead change management and transformation initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s in Mechanical / Electrical / Industrial Engineering or related field
• 15+ years of experience in AME / Manufacturing Engineering / Industrial Operations
• 5+ years in plant operations or manufacturing leadership role

Experience Requirements

• Industry 4.0 & Digital Transformation
• Lean Manufacturing & Operational Excellence
• Capex & Facility Project Execution
• Quality Systems & Customer Complaint Resolution
• Experience in ETO / MTO / MTS manufacturing environments
• APICS or equivalent certification preferred

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking with execution excellence
• Strong leadership and people development
• Stakeholder & change management expertise
• Financial and business acumen
• Digital manufacturing & analytics capability
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to drive transformation at scale

Role Scope

• Reports to: Plant Manager
• Team Size: 10+ (Direct: 3+)
• Budget Responsibility: >$5 Million/ anum
• Travel: ~10 to 15%
• Role Type: Strategic and operational manufacturing leadership role

Key Stakeholders

• Plant Leadership & Functional Heads
• Regional & Global Operations Teams
• Supply Chain, Quality, HR, Finance
• Suppliers, Technology Partners, External Agencies
• Government and Regulatory Authorities

Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to helping make life better for our employees, customers and communities. Customers lean on us for our technology-driven excellence in mission-critical flow creation and industrial solutions across 40+ respected brands where our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.

Experience Level

Senior Level