Drive Continuous Improvement & Process Engineering
Apply Lean, DOE, statistical methods and structured problem solving to improve process capability, yield, cycle time, throughput, equipment effectiveness and cost.
Establish robust manufacturing processes, process specifications, control plans and technical work standards in partnership with Production and Quality.
Own Manufacturing Automation & Equipment
Drive the automation, tooling and equipment — including robotics, vision and fixturing — that reduce labor dependence and improve throughput, quality and scalability, partnering with Automation/Equipment Engineering, Program Management and outside integrators on complex builds.
Make thoughtful make/buy/partner calls on automation and equipment investment, balancing near-term production needs against longer-term technical capability.
Lead New Product Introduction (NPI)
Own the manufacturing side of NPI and design transfer, partnering with Engineering and Quality to ensure new products and process changes are manufacturable, validated and ready for reliable commercial scale.
Collaborate with senior leaders to develop manufacturing plans, schedules and objectives, ensuring alignment with product designs, equipment capabilities, quality standards and cost targets.
Build the Organization
Build and develop a strong Manufacturing Engineering organization spanning process engineering, NPI/industrialization and equipment engineering.
Manage departmental staffing, project assignments and external consulting/vendor resources to meet aggressive project deadlines.
Ensure Safety, Quality & Compliance
Partner with the Facilities team to ensure manufacturing processes, equipment and products strictly comply with safety requirements (OSHA), environmental standards and ISO/industry quality standards.
Partner with Quality to ensure manufacturing processes and equipment meet applicable regulatory and quality requirements, including risk management, process validation, pFMEA and process controls.
What You Bring
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline (Master's degree or MBA preferred).
10+ years of progressive engineering experience in a complex manufacturing environment, including 5+ years in a direct leadership/people-management role.
Proven ability to direct departmental strategies, manage resources, and lead complex engineering, CAPEX, and NPI initiatives in cross-functional collaboration with Hardware, Quality, and Operations.
Comprehensive background in engineering, tooling, modeling, and design reviews.
Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, cycle-time optimization, yield improvement, and establishing standardized workflows and process controls.
Technical mastery in root-cause failure analysis, defect reduction, pFMEA, and ensuring full compliance with OSHA, ISO, and relevant industry regulatory standards.
Who Thrives Here
A hands-on technical leader who can move between the manufacturing floor and longer-term engineering strategy; builds teams and systems rather than becoming the permanent problem solver; and thrives in an environment requiring urgency, rigorous experimentation, structured root-cause problem solving and rapid scale.
Compensation & Perks
Unlimited PTO for exempt employees (accrued PTO for non-exempt employees, up to 15 days)
12 paid holidays per year, plus 3 paid volunteer days
Generous premium coverage for medical, dental, and vision
401(k) retirement plan and paid parental leave
Fringe lifestyle benefit, plus everyday perks like snacks and coffee in office
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.
LightForce Orthodontics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, Protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
