The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for developing and executing the manufacturing scale-up strategy, ensuring the smooth expansion of production operations within our newly established facility. This includes:
- Defining equipment and process requirements for scaling production.
- Collaborating with suppliers to design and source critical manufacturing and testing equipment.
- Implementing in-process monitoring systems to track key parameters.
- Laying the foundation for an MES to enable real-time data collection and process analytics.
As production volume grows, this role will also take on team-building responsibilities, hiring and leading a small team of manufacturing engineers and technicians.
Key Responsibilities:
Manufacturing Scale-Up & Process Design
- Develop and execute a production scale-up strategy.
- Optimize factory layout, process flow, and workstation design within the existing facility.
- Define and implement hybrid manufacturing processes integrating automation and manual assembly.
- Lead the selection, specification, and procurement of new manufacturing equipment to support increased production capacity.
- Work with R&D, Applications Engineering, and Production Team to ensure manufacturability and product quality at scale.
Equipment & Automation Strategy
- Work with vendors and suppliers to develop, procure, and install key manufacturing equipment.
- Ensure equipment validation and commissioning for new production machinery.
- Develop automation strategies for winding, crimping, pressure testing, epoxy application, and curing processes and other processes as required.
- Optimize equipment for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), tracking uptime, speed, and quality performance.
In-Process Monitoring & Data Systems
- Identify, design, and implement real-time monitoring systems for critical manufacturing parameters.
- Lead the selection and deployment of an MES or other process monitoring system for data collection and analytics.
- Develop process control metrics and ensure compliance with ISO 11119-3 and other safety standards.
Continuous Improvement & Operations Support
- Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
- Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective action initiatives for process and quality issues.
- Train production teams on new manufacturing processes, equipment, and in-line monitoring tools.
Team Growth & Leadership
- Serve as a technical leader initially, with responsibility for growing a manufacturing engineering team as production scales.
- Develop training programs for new team members and production staff.
- Work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, and Applications Engineering to ensure production readiness.
Key Metrics for Success
- OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) of manufacturing equipment.
- Test equipment capability and reliability.
- Capital expenditures (CapEx) alignment with planned costs.
- On-time execution of manufacturing scale-up milestones.
Qualifications & Skills
Required:
- 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in high-pressure vessel manufacturing, composites, or a related industry.
- Proven experience in scaling up manufacturing operations, including factory layout, process optimization, and equipment procurement.
- Experience in designing and implementing in-process monitoring systems and data collection strategies.
- Strong knowledge of industrial automation, hybrid manufacturing processes, and quality control systems.
- Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent) and process simulation tools.
- Familiarity with ISO 11119-3, ASME BPVC, DOT, or other high-pressure manufacturing standards.
- Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
Preferred:
- Experience in composite manufacturing (e.g., filament winding, resin infusion, autoclave curing).
- Background in manufacturing data systems (MES, ERP integration, real-time monitoring solutions).
- Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) is a plus.
- Previous experience hiring and leading engineering teams in a growth-phase company.
Other duties:
- This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are not required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Work Environment
Work is performed in an office environment.
Physical Demands:
Constant working under deadlines, Frequent sitting, repetitive wrist/hand motions, working alone, working with a team, occasional walking, standing, bending, pushing/pulling, driving, lifting up to 25 lbs.
Travel Requirements:
- Up to 10% Travel will be required
About Noble Gas Systems
Founded in 2017, Noble Gas Systems is a global leader in the development and production of advanced storage systems for hydrogen and other high-pressure gases. Service customers across automotive, aviation, motorsports, maritime, and emerging zero-emissions applications, the company is experiencing rapid growth.
Having reached a key inflection point, we are expanding our team to support both strategic growth and operational execution. This is a unique opportunity to join a high-impact, growth-stage company and help define its next phase.
