NPI Manager (MNC)

About the role

Lead end-to-end New Product Introduction projects from customer requirements and feasibility assessment through pilot production and mass-production release. Develop project timelines, milestones, resource plans and budgets to ensure new products launch on schedule and within cost targets. Coordinate cross-functional teams across Engineering, Production, Quality, Planning, Procurement, Supply Chain and Commercial functions.

Key responsibilities

• Review product specifications, drawings, BOMs and customer requirements to assess manufacturability and production readiness
• Drive Design for Manufacturing and Assembly reviews to identify process risks and improvement opportunities
• Oversee tooling, equipment, fixtures, process development and production-line readiness for new products
• Lead prototype, engineering and pilot builds while monitoring quality, yield, cycle time, capacity and material readiness
• Ensure relevant documentation, including process flow, PFMEA, control plans, work instructions and inspection standards, is completed before production launch
• Manage process validation, product qualification, First Article Inspection and customer approval activities
• Identify technical, quality, material and schedule risks and implement appropriate mitigation and recovery plans
• Manage engineering changes, including ECO and ECN activities, throughout the product lifecycle
• Monitor NPI performance against cost, quality, delivery, yield and production-readiness targets
• Ensure a structured handover from the NPI team to Production, Engineering and Quality teams following successful launch

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electronics Engineering or a related discipline
• At least eight years of NPI, project engineering or manufacturing engineering experience
• Minimum three years of experience leading an NPI, engineering or technical project team
• Proven experience managing new products from development and qualification through mass-production launch
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, process validation, BOMs and engineering drawings
• Familiar with APQP, PFMEA, control plans, FAI, DFM, ECO/ECN and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience within a high-volume manufacturing or precision engineering environment is preferred
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple launches, deadlines and cross-functional stakeholders
• Good commercial awareness, including project costing, capital expenditure and product profitability
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with ERP, project management or product lifecycle management systems