Launch Manager Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

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Regular Full Time Fort Wayne, IN, US

POSITION SUMMARY

This is a hands-on Operations Engineering Manager that not only manages, but participates in industrial engineering activities. The role is built for someone who thrives in the shop environment. You will lead an Operations Engineering Support group that spends the majority of their time on the production floor — observing operations, conducting time studies, designing and physically setting up assembly lines and cells, and working alongside operators and supervisors. A core part of this role is supporting new product launches from pre-production planning through rate readiness, including full assembly line and cell setup. This is not a desk job. If you are most comfortable in steel-toed boots, this role is for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Collaboration

• Manage/Lead manufacturing engineering and industrial engineering team members
• Build strong working relationships with operators, leads, and supervisors
• Communicate findings and changes clearly to both floor personnel and management
• Partner with automation engineering, production supervision, and supply chain during new product launches and line reconfigurations

Assembly Line & Cell Setup

• Design, configure, and physically set up assembly lines and manufacturing cells for new and existing products
• Establish cell layout, workstation sequencing, and material flow paths based on operation routing and takt time
• Select and position equipment, fixtures, tooling, and point-of-use storage at each workstation
• Install and validate flow racks, kitting lanes, shadow boards, and visual management systems
• Conduct line balancing to distribute work content evenly across stations and eliminate bottlenecks
• Set up and verify ergonomic work heights, reach envelopes, and operator movement patterns at every station
• Coordinate with facilities, maintenance, and manufacturing engineering during physical setup activities
• Walk the line during initial builds to observe flow, identify setup deficiencies, and make real-time adjustments
• Establish WIP caps, buffer locations, and material replenishment triggers within the cell
• Document final cell configuration with floor markings, station drawings, and photographic baseline

Production Launch Support

• Serve as the IE lead for new product introductions from early planning through sustained production
• Develop launch-phase labor standards and refine them through pilot runs and first article builds
• Conduct pre-launch capacity and line balance analyses to confirm takt alignment
• Participate in design for manufacturability (DFM) reviews and provide IE input during product development
• Build and document standard work for all new assembly operations prior to operator training
• Lead or support trial runs and production pilots, observing and recording actual vs. estimated times
• Identify and resolve launch bottlenecks in real time on the floor
• Track launch-phase performance metrics (actual vs. standard, first pass yield, throughput) and drive corrective action
• Transition products from launch mode to steady-state with fully validated standards and documented processes

Labor Standards & Work Measurement

• Conduct direct time studies and work sampling on the production floor
• Develop, validate, and maintain engineered labor standards using time study
• Observe and document current-state assembly operations with precision and objectivity
• Work directly with operators to understand job content, sequence, and variation

Process Improvement

• Identify waste through direct observation — motion, waiting, overproduction, transport
• Lead and participate in kaizen events and 5S activities on the floor
• Implement standard work and visual management at the workstation level
• Follow improvements through to sustainment, not just recommendation

Data Collection & Analysis

• Gather production data firsthand — cycle times, downtime, scrap, throughput
• Build capacity models and staffing plans grounded in observed reality
• Translate floor data into clear recommendations for management

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• 2+ years of IE experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment
• Direct experience designing and setting up assembly lines or manufacturing cells
• Direct experience conducting time studies and developing labor standards
• Demonstrated involvement in new product launches or production ramp-ups
• Comfortable working in an active manufacturing environment (noise, machinery, PPE required)
• Must be US person per ITAR regulations

Preferred

• Experience supporting NPI (New Product Introduction) or APQP processes
• Hands-on experience with U-cell or one-piece flow assembly configurations
• Familiarity with Lean tools: 5S, standard work, line balancing, value stream mapping, kaizen
• Experience with ERP/MES systems for data extraction and tracking
• Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent training
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing