Injection Molding Engineering Manager

Injection Molding Engineering ManagerMedical Manufacturing | Rochester, NYUp to $150,000 Base SalaryNational Search – Relocation to Rochester, NY RequiredThis position is being advertised nationally to reach qualified injection molding leaders. This is not a permanent work-from-home position. The selected candidate will be expected to relocate to the Rochester, New York area and work onsite with the manufacturing team.The OpportunityA growing, established manufacturer serving the medical device and life sciences industries is seeking an experienced Injection Molding Engineering Manager to lead molding process engineering at a high-quality manufacturing operation in Rochester, NY.This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on technical leader who enjoys solving difficult molding problems, developing engineers and technicians, improving manufacturing performance, and creating consistent, repeatable processes.The company operates in a highly engineered manufacturing environment where quality, process discipline, validation, automation, and continuous improvement are critical.This role will have meaningful influence over the site's molding strategy and will work closely with Operations, Quality, Tooling, Maintenance, Automation, and Engineering.What You'll Be Responsible ForLead the Molding Engineering FunctionLead and develop a team of process engineers and molding/setup technical personnel.Establish clear technical expectations and develop the capabilities of the molding organization.Serve as the site's technical authority for injection molding process development and troubleshooting.Help create a culture focused on process discipline, root-cause problem solving, quality, and continuous improvement.Develop & Optimize Injection Molding ProcessesDevelop reliable and repeatable molding processes for new and existing products.Apply scientific molding and data-driven processing principles to establish appropriate operating windows.Troubleshoot challenging molding issues involving machines, molds, materials, process parameters, automation, and auxiliary equipment.Improve process capability, repeatability, cycle time, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness.Identify opportunities to reduce scrap, downtime, process variation, and manufacturing cost.Support New Tooling & Production LaunchesLead molding trials and process development associated with new molds, equipment, products, and manufacturing transfers.Partner with tooling and engineering teams to ensure molds are production-ready.Establish processing parameters and appropriate documentation before release to production.Identify technical risks early and drive corrective actions before full-scale manufacturing.Own Process ValidationLead molding-related qualification and validation activities in a regulated manufacturing environment.Develop robust process parameters and documented processing windows.Support equipment and process qualification activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ or comparable validation methodologies.Work closely with Quality and Engineering to ensure processes meet required manufacturing and quality standards.Drive Manufacturing ImprovementUse manufacturing data to identify process instability and opportunities for improvement.Lead structured root-cause investigations for recurring molding problems.Improve manufacturing metrics such as:ScrapCycle timeDowntimeProcess capabilityEquipment utilizationOverall equipment effectivenessProduct qualitySupport Lean and continuous-improvement initiatives throughout the molding operation.Help standardize best practices across machines, molds, shifts, and technical teams.Partner Across the PlantWork closely with:Manufacturing OperationsQualityToolingMaintenanceAutomationProduct / Manufacturing EngineeringSite LeadershipThe successful candidate will be comfortable spending time both on the production floor and working strategically with leadership.What We're Looking ForThe strongest candidates will bring approximately 7+ years of injection molding experience, including experience leading other engineers, technicians, or technical manufacturing personnel.We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:Injection molding process developmentScientific moldingProcess optimizationMold trials and troubleshootingInjection molding machines and controlsMold/tooling performanceHot runner and cold runner toolingAuxiliary and peripheral equipmentAutomation integrationProcess validationRoot-cause analysisContinuous improvementLean manufacturingProcess capability and statistical analysisNew product or tooling launchesLeadership ExperienceCandidates should have demonstrated experience providing technical leadership within a molding operation.You may currently hold a title such as:Molding Engineering ManagerProcess Engineering ManagerInjection Molding ManagerSenior Process EngineerLead Molding EngineerPlastics Engineering ManagerManufacturing Engineering ManagerStrong individual contributors who are already leading projects, mentoring engineers, or functioning as the technical leader of a molding department may also be considered.EducationA bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline is preferred, particularly:Plastics EngineeringMechanical EngineeringManufacturing EngineeringPolymer EngineeringChemical EngineeringEquivalent advanced injection molding experience will also be considered.Preferred Technical BackgroundExperience with some combination of the following is highly desirable:Scientific molding methodologiesStatistical process analysisMinitab or similar analytical softwareSolidWorks or comparable engineering softwareInjection molding automationProcess qualification / validationMedical device, healthcare, life sciences, or other highly regulated manufacturingCleanroom manufacturingLean / Six Sigma methodologiesFormal scientific molding training or certification is a plus but is not required for an otherwise strong candidate.Why Consider This Opportunity?This is more than a maintenance-oriented molding position.The person hired will have the opportunity to:Lead an established technical molding team.Influence how molding processes are developed and standardized.Solve complex technical manufacturing challenges.Improve equipment and process performance.Participate in new tooling and product launches.Develop engineers and technicians.Work in an advanced, quality-driven manufacturing environment.Make a visible impact on plant performance.CompensationBase Salary: up to $150,000Final compensation will depend on the candidate's technical background, leadership experience, and overall qualifications.A comprehensive benefits package is also offered.LocationRochester, New YorkCandidates located anywhere in the United States are encouraged to apply if they are willing to relocate to the Rochester area.Relocation to Rochester, NY is required for this position.