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Director Manufacturing Engineering Jobs in Alabama

Blue Origin, LLC

Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$89K - $122K/yr

... direct manufacturing engineering experience in a production or development-to-production ... environment * 5+ years of experience authoring work instructions and managing manufacturing BOMs ...

Blue Origin

Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Huntsville, AL

$89K - $122K/yr

... direct manufacturing engineering experience in a production or development-to-production ... environment * 5+ years of experience authoring work instructions and managing manufacturing BOMs ...

KIMBER MFG., INC.

Manufacturing Manager

Troy, AL · On-site

Director of Manufacturing Date: July 1, 2026 SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE The Manufacturing Manager will ... Collaborate with manufacturing engineering to identify, communicate, and drive implementation of ...

Faith Technologies

Manufacturing Engineer Manager

Auburn, AL · On-site

$91K - $114K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for ensuring that the key engineering duties ... This position typically has direct supervision of between ten to fifteen engineering support staff ...

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All JobsManufacturing Engineering JobsDirector Manufacturing Engineering JobsDirector Manufacturing Engineering Jobs in Alabama

Director Manufacturing Engineering information

See Alabama salary details

$66.2K

$176.5K

$230.2K

How much do director manufacturing engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for director manufacturing engineering in Alabama is $176,482.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $128,300.00 and $229,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director of Manufacturing Engineering do?

A Director of Manufacturing Engineering oversees the design, implementation, and improvement of manufacturing processes within an organization. They lead teams of engineers, manage projects, and collaborate with other departments to ensure efficient production, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness. Their responsibilities often include strategic planning, process optimization, technology integration, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements. This leadership role is critical in driving innovation and maintaining competitive manufacturing operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Manufacturing Engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Manufacturing Engineering, you need deep expertise in manufacturing processes, engineering management, and process optimization, usually supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering and significant leadership experience. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, lean manufacturing methodologies, Six Sigma certifications, and advanced manufacturing technologies is typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help drive cross-functional teams and foster innovation. These capabilities are vital for ensuring operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and continuous improvement in a competitive manufacturing environment.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Manufacturing Engineering and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Manufacturing Engineering often encounters challenges such as integrating new technologies, scaling production efficiently, and managing cross-functional teams. Balancing cost, quality, and speed while implementing process improvements requires strong project management and communication skills. Proactively fostering collaboration between engineering, operations, and quality teams helps address issues early and ensures alignment with organizational goals. Staying updated on industry advancements and investing in team development are also key to overcoming these challenges.

What is the difference between Director Manufacturing Engineering vs Manufacturing Engineer?

AspectDirector Manufacturing EngineeringManufacturing Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, often with leadership experienceBachelor's in Engineering or related field, entry to mid-level
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, team leadership, cross-department collaborationHands-on production, process improvement, equipment troubleshooting
Industry UsageOversees manufacturing operations, sets long-term goalsExecutes manufacturing processes, supports production teams

The main difference between a Director Manufacturing Engineering and a Manufacturing Engineer lies in scope and responsibility. The director focuses on strategic planning, leadership, and overseeing multiple teams, while the manufacturing engineer handles day-to-day process improvements and technical tasks. Both roles are essential in manufacturing, but they operate at different levels of management and technical involvement.

What are the most commonly searched types of Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama? The most popular types of Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama? For Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama look for? The top searched job categories for Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Alabama are:
Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Manufacturing Engineering job openings in Alabama as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $176,482 per year, or $84.8 per hour.
Director, Manufacturing Engineering

Director, Manufacturing Engineering

Performance Drone Works

Huntsville, AL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Performance Drone Works (PDW) is building the next generation of tactical robotic systems used across defense, national security, and public safety missions. We are building a new center of engineering excellence to design our new category of tactical robotic systems and the industrial capacity to deliver them, bringing decisive airpower into the hands of every operator. We are not here to make promises; we are here to deliver real systems with real capabilities for real missions.
You will join a team of operators, engineers, and builders who solve hard problems with humility and focus. We design and produce multi-mission aerial systems that operators trust to perform in real-world conditions, reliably, repeatedly, and at scale. Our approach is grounded in operator-centered design, rapid iteration from field use, and U.S.-based manufacturing. We operate by a clear set of values: Mission First, Aim Farther, Own It, Win Together. This is how we build advantage and how we help protect our service members, our communities, and our country.
As we scale production, we are seeking a Senior Director of Sustaining Manufacturing Engineering to lead the industrialization, launch, and continuous improvement of our drone platforms. This role will ensure our products are manufacturable, testable, reliable, and continuously improving as we scale volume and complexity.
What You'll Do
  • Lead all sustaining and NPI manufacturing engineering deliverables and functions to support the transition from development to scalable production and ongoing optimization.
  • Build and lead a multidisciplinary team spanning manufacturing, industrial, test, and equipment engineering, working in close partnership with the Manufacturing Systems & Automation team.
  • Drive NPI manufacturing readiness for new sUAS platforms providing early DFX input to Core Engineering, and lean process development to ensure pilot production readiness including manufacturing specs, BOMs, workflow, work instructions, tools and fixtures, assembly & test equipment, training, and process validation.
  • Define and support NPI stage gates through the PLC (Concept/ Pilot/ EVT/ DVT/ PVT/ GA/ EOL) including direct support of proto and pilot builds to ensure production quality, throughput, traceability, and cost targets are met.
  • Partner with Core Engineering to incorporate DFX to eliminate design-driven manufacturing risks early, and own sustaining design improvements to reduce costs, improve high-volume production.
  • Own production process yield, throughput, cycle times, labor efficiency, line optimization, cost, and manufacturability across multiple product lines.
  • Lead continuous improvements to production per data analytics,6-sigma, and lean methods to ensure assembly and test capacity scales to meet demand.
  • Drive improvements for safety / ergo, quality, yield, throughput, delivery, and cost by employing data-driven, lean methods.
  • Drive tools, fixtures, jigs for new and existing processes, and collaborate with Manufacturing Systems and Automation to deploy assembly and inspection equipment for manual, and semi-automated and fully automated processes
  • Support the development and own sustainment of functional sub-system and system tests for production.
  • Drive MES selection, integration with ERP, QMS and PLM; including test equipment and data integration, data analytics, automated reporting, and training and deployment of augmented reality (AR) work instructions into production.
  • Build capacity models, staffing plans, labor standards, throughput optimization, and ramp plans.
  • Support new equipment selection, development, commissioning, and sustaining maintenance (TPM) through its lifecycle to ensure required OEE.
  • Support domestic outsourcing & contract manufacturing by ensuring transfer readiness (docs, processes, equipment, standards, training, ongoing alignment).
  • Build, and develop a data-driven, hands-on, and accountable team of manufacturing engineers, technicians, TPMs, and managers.
  • Partner with cross-functionally to support NCR disposition, CAPA, compliance, product improvements, and drive operational excellence.
  • Support Supply Chain and Quality for materials readiness, and supplier quality, and act as the technical bridge between product design and factory execution.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Aerospace) or applicable technical discipline. Master's degree (MS/MBA) a plus.
  • 15+ years of hands-on manufacturing engineering leadership experience in high-growth, high-volume manufacturing environments using Lean / Six Sigma methods.
  • Proven track record leading NPI and scaling processes and tools to HV production; preferably in either sUAS, robotics, consumer electronics, or aerospace / defense.
  • Strong experience developing assembly and test processes, complex system integration (HW+FW/SW), MES integration of test data and data analytics.
  • Strong background in DFM/DFA/DFT, commissioning and sustaining semi-auto and automated production, and employing lean manufacturing.
  • Seasoned in NPI readiness, process capability, employing Lean / Six Sigma methods to optimize yield, throughput, cycle time, labor efficiency, cost, and OEE.
  • Experience integrating enterprise systems (MES, ERP, QMS, PLM, EAM/CMMS) for traceability, NCR, CAPA, genealogy, data collection / analytics, and compliance; including real-time production monitoring (OEE, yield, down-time, CT, etc.)
  • Experience supporting manufacturing equipment and data sources (PLC/OPC UA/SCADA, IIoT/edge) and enterprise systems (APIs, middleware/iPaaS).
  • Master data governance and change control (MBOMs, routings, PN/revs) and manufacturing specification documentation.
  • Experience building and scaling teams across multiple disciplines and managing managers and technical leads.
  • Strong execution mindset with ability to operate in fast-paced environments with positive, servant-leadership.
  • Working knowledge of OT/IT cybersecurity practices in manufacturing environments.
  • Vendor and program management (business cases, SOWs, SLAs, budgets, reports) and executive-level communication.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day and lift / carry up to 25 pounds. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment as well as manufacturing and test equipment, industrial computers, HMIs, and handheld diagnostic tools. Must be physically capable of walking production floors, accessing equipment in constrained spaces, participating in factory acceptance testing, and supporting on-site system deployments.
Work Environment
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to manufacturing equipment, automated machinery, test systems, and industrial materials. This position may have exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, and non-climate-controlled environments. May require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the environment. This is a fast-paced work environment and requires cross-departmental collaboration with independent and team-based responsibilities. Standard work hours for this position are full-time, Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime as operational needs demand.
Benefits
PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:
  • PDW values our team, and we offer a compensation package reflective of your experience and capabilities. Benefits include:
  • Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company
  • Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options
  • On-site fitness center

EEO Statement
PDW is an equal opportunity employer that upholds all federal and state non-discrimination laws. We ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation for employment for all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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