OUTFORM · 4 hours ago
Director, Manufacturing Engineering
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$210K/yr - $240K/yr
12+ years expOutform Group specializes in creating tangible consumer engagements that elevate brand experiences. The Director of Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for establishing the development engineering foundation and operational scalability needed to support Outform's global manufacturing network, while ensuring manufacturability and cost competitiveness across projects.
Information TechnologyManufacturingRetail Technology
No H1B
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain the long-term technical operations roadmap in connection with new project/product development, aligning with company strategy, volume forecasts, and technology evolution
Establish engineering governance standards for new product development (PFMEA, Control Plans, SOPs, validation protocols) into all factories and with all suppliers
Define and maintain global standards for manufacturing processes, materials, tools, fixtures, test procedures, and equipment selection
With Engineering, lead DFM/DFX processes from concept through launch, ensuring manufacturability, cost structure optimization, and scalability
Oversee development teams on prototype builds, pre-production pilots, and transition to mass production, ensuring smooth ramp-up and yield maturity
Develop vendor capacity & competency models for NPI, process flow diagrams, cycle time analysis, and tooling strategies for new products
Drive the selection, integration, and optimization of manufacturing technologies, including robotics, semi-automation, smart fixturing, and digital manufacturing systems
Lead capital investment planning for tooling & oversight of vendor capacity with respect to machinery, assembly lines, test equipment, and plant expansions
Ensure robust equipment life-cycle management including uptime, preventative maintenance standards, and performance monitoring
With Manufacturing Operations, engage in root-cause analysis of yield loss, scrap, rework, and process deviations; implement sustainable corrective actions
Improve process capability through Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical control methods, and technical operations best practices
Ensure processes meet compliance, regulatory, and customer-specific standards
With manufacturing Operations leadership, lead Lean transformation initiatives across manufacturing sites (Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement, waste reduction, process redesign)
Implement system-wide metrics for engineering performance, including yield, Cpk/Ppk, cycle time, TAKT alignment, and equipment OEE
Support optimization of labor models and integrate ergonomics into production workstations, working with Manufacturing operations to report on productivity improvements
Build, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary development engineering teams across regions
Partner with Manufacturing Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain & vendors on strategic and tactical initiatives
Influence senior leadership by presenting development engineering roadmaps, improvement plans, and capital proposals
System-Level Thinker: Designs technical operations ecosystems rather than isolated processes
Technical Mastery: Deep knowledge of process & product development engineering, automation, materials, and industrial technologies
Cross-Functional Leadership: Skilled at driving alignment across engineering, operations, product teams, and global sites
Innovation & Technology Foresight: Evaluates and integrates future-ready technologies and process advancements from vendors into the business
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Uses advanced analytical tools to diagnose problems and drive improvements
Organizational Development: Builds high-performance development engineering teams and supports long-term talent development
Change Leadership: Drives major process and system transformations while managing stakeholder expectations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering; master's preferred
12–18 years of manufacturing engineering experience in multi-site or global environments, partnering with global vendors with a strong presence in SE Asia
5+ years leading engineering or industrialized teams
Demonstrated success in automation deployment, factory layout design for NPI, and high-volume scaling across global vendor partners
Advanced knowledge of PFMEA, PPAP, validation protocols, GD&T, cycl, and SPC
Expertise with MES, PLM, CAD, simulation tools, and industrial automation systems
Strong understanding of materials manufacturing (metals, plastics, electronics, woodworking, composites—customizable to Outform)
Experience with capital equipment design, selection, and lifecycle management
Preferred
Lean Six Sigma certification preferred
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life insurance
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
401(k) and matching contributions
HSA and FSA
Leave programs
Paid time off including holidays
Company
OUTFORM
Outfom is a retail agency and manufacturer that specializes in combining strategic thinking.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2021-04-22Acquired
Leadership Team
Ariel Haroush
Founder & CEO
Recent News
2026-01-19
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2025-05-06
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2024-05-24
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