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Director Manufacturing Engineering Jobs in Minnesota

Manufacturing Engineer

Big Lake, MN · On-site

$68K - $82K/yr

Job Summary The Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for developing and implementing safe ... Conduct direct labor studies and drive manufacturing process improvement activities through ...

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Showing results 1-20

Director Manufacturing Engineering information

See Minnesota salary details

$71.5K

$190.7K

$248.8K

How much do director manufacturing engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for director manufacturing engineering in Minnesota is $190,701.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $138,600.00 and $247,800.00 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 Minnesota? The most popular types of Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Minnesota are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Minnesota? For Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Minnesota look for? The top searched job categories for Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs in Minnesota are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Director Manufacturing Engineering jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Director Manufacturing Engineering job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Manufacturing Engineering job openings in Minnesota as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $190,701 per year, or $91.7 per hour.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Binks US LLC

Saint Paul, MN • On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

Location: Shoreview, Minnesota
Reports To: Director of Operations
Salary: $130-$150k annually + Annual Bonus

Position Summary

Binks is seeking a high-impact Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing engineering, process excellence, automation, and new product industrialization at our Shoreview, Minnesota Center of Excellence.

This role is a critical leadership position supporting Binks' transformation journey as we integrate multiple product lines, simplify operations, accelerate innovation, and establish world-class manufacturing capabilities across industrial finishing, powder coating, liquid paint application, electrostatic systems, sealant and adhesive dispensing, and engineered systems.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will lead a team of Manufacturing, Process, and Industrial Engineers while driving operational excellence, manufacturing standardization, productivity improvements, capital deployment, and technology advancement. The successful candidate will bring experience from leading industrial and finishing solutions manufacturers with high-mix industrial manufacturing and finishing solutions environments.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Engineering Leadership

  • Lead and develop a high-performing Manufacturing Engineering organization supporting machining, assembly, fabrication, finishing, testing, and engineered systems production.
  • Establish engineering standards, work instructions, labor standards, routings, process controls, and manufacturing governance.
  • Support integration of acquired businesses, product transfers, and footprint optimization initiatives.
  • Drive manufacturing readiness and scalability to support future growth.
  • Serve as a key leader in operational transformation and value creation initiatives.

Process Engineering & Finishing Technology Excellence

Provide technical leadership across core Binks manufacturing technologies including:

  • Liquid paint application systems
  • Powder coating systems
  • Electrostatic finishing equipment
  • Precision fluid handling systems
  • Sealant and adhesive dispensing systems
  • Electromechanical assembly operations
  • Fabrication and machining processes
  • Test and validation systems

Responsibilities include:

  • Improving cost, first-pass yield, throughput, and process capability.
  • Developing robust control plans and process validation standards.
  • Reducing process variation and manufacturing defects.
  • Establishing best-in-class manufacturing processes benchmarked against leading finishing industry manufacturers.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on:

  • Safety
  • Quality
  • Delivery
  • Productivity
  • Cost
  • Inventory
  • Lead Time Reduction

Deploy Lean and Six Sigma methodologies including:

  • Standard Work
  • Visual Management
  • 5S
  • Kaizen
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • SMED
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Error Proofing (Poka-Yoke)
  • Daily Management Systems
  • TPM and OEE Improvement

Additional responsibilities:

  • Build and manage annual productivity pipelines.
  • Drive labor efficiency and capacity optimization.
  • Improve manufacturing flow and plant layout.
  • Eliminate waste and non-value-added activities.
  • Support EBITDA expansion through measurable operational improvements.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Value Engineering

Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations to:

  • Industrialize new product introductions.
  • Implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
  • Lead manufacturing readiness reviews.
  • Develop scalable manufacturing processes.
  • Support APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and validation activities where appropriate.
  • Drive Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives to improve margins and competitiveness.
  • Ensure engineering resources are aligned to innovation projects with strong business cases and growth potential.

Automation, Capital & Technology Deployment

  • Develop multi-year capital investment roadmaps.
  • Identify automation opportunities that improve safety, quality, productivity, and scalability.
  • Lead equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and startup.
  • Evaluate robotics, vision systems, automated assembly, and digital manufacturing technologies.
  • Support factory layout redesign and manufacturing cell optimization.
  • Build financial business cases and ROI analyses for capital investments.

High-Mix / Low-Volume Manufacturing Strategy

Develop manufacturing systems capable of supporting:

  • Configure-to-Order (CTO)
  • Make-to-Order (MTO)

Focus areas include:

  • Manufacturing flexibility
  • Capacity planning
  • Rapid response manufacturing
  • Setup reduction
  • Resource utilization
  • Flow optimization

The successful candidate will understand the unique challenges of engineered industrial equipment manufacturing where product customization, low-volume complexity, and customer responsiveness are critical competitive advantages.

Quality & Compliance

Partner with Quality leadership to:

  • Improve process capability and process stability.
  • Drive corrective and preventive action systems.
  • Support ISO 9001/ ATEX/FM Global compliance and continuous improvement.
  • Reduce COPQ and manufacturing defects.
  • Improve supplier and internal quality performance.
  • Ensure manufacturing standards are consistently deployed across operations.

Leadership & Talent Development

  • Lead, coach, and develop Manufacturing Engineers, Process Engineers, Industrial Engineers, and Technicians.
  • Build technical capability across the organization.
  • Establish succession planning and talent development strategies.
  • Foster a culture aligned with The Binks Way:
    • Bold
    • Innovative
    • Nimble
    • Knowledgeable
    • Sustainable
  • Promote accountability, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Indicators

Success in this role will be measured through:

Category

KPI

Safety

TRIR, Near Miss Reduction

Quality

FPY, PPM, COPQ

Delivery

OTD, Schedule Attainment

Productivity

Labor Efficiency, OEE

Cost

Annual Productivity Savings

Inventory

Inventory Turns, Working Capital

Lead Time

Manufacturing Lead Time Reduction

Capacity

Throughput Improvement

NPI

On-Time Product Launches

Capital

ROI on Capital Investments

Culture

Employee Engagement & Team Development

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
  • 5+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience.
  • 2+ years leading engineering or technical teams.
  • Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.
  • Strong Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience.
  • Proven success leading productivity and cost-reduction initiatives.
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing execution processes.
  • Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred

  • Experience in industrial finishing, fluid handling, dispensing, coating, automation, pumps, spray equipment, or industrial process equipment manufacturing.
  • Experience with companies such as Graco, Wagner, Nordson, Eaton, Parker Hannifin, Eaton, or similar industrial and automotive manufacturers.
  • MBA or advanced technical degree.
  • Knowledge of design for manufacturing, and structured NPI processes.

Why Join Binks

Binks is transforming a 130+ year industry leader into the premier global finishing and fluid-handling solutions company. This role offers the opportunity to lead engineering excellence at our flagship Shoreview Center of Excellence, directly influencing productivity, innovation, customer satisfaction, and enterprise value creation while shaping the future of industrial finishing technology.