Senior Manager, Operations Engineering (f/m)

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead Operations / Manufacturing Engineers and Test Engineers. The role is responsible for translating product and business requirements into safe, capable and efficient production systems, from industrialization and production transfers through line and factory-layout implementation, process and test readiness, ramp-up and continuous improvement.

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who combines strong technical-business judgment with the ability to align cross-functional teams and deliver complex manufacturing commitments in a high-mix, low-volume environment.

What You Will Do:

• Lead, develop and organize a team of Operations / Manufacturing Engineers and Test Engineers, with clear priorities, accountability, coaching and capability development.
• Own the industrialization of new and transferred products, including manufacturing-process definition, assembly and test readiness, tooling, work instructions, validation, production launch and ramp-up.
• Develop and implement production-line and factory layouts that support safe flow, capacity, quality, productivity, material movement, maintainability and future flexibility.
• Define and govern the manufacturing and test-engineering roadmap across product families, promoting standardization, modularity, scalable solutions and appropriate use of automation and Industry 4.0 methods.
• Lead technical and business trade-offs across safety, quality, delivery, cost, capacity, risk and lifecycle value.
• Develop capital plans and business cases; manage CAPEX priorities, department budget, milestones and benefits realization.
• Drive continuous improvement in assembly and test processes using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and formal problem-solving methods.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, EHS, Product / Design Engineering, Finance, customers, suppliers and global sites to resolve issues and deliver industrialization commitments.
• Support production transfers between sites, including readiness reviews, risk management, resource planning, escalation and stabilization after launch.
• Ensure manufacturing and test solutions meet applicable industrial and aerospace equipment, process, quality and safety requirements.

What You Will Need:

• Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or a closely related engineering field.
• 15+ years of manufacturing / operations engineering experience, including 10+ years of people-leadership experience.
• Experience leading manufacturing, operations or industrial engineering teams; leadership of test-engineering capability is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with product industrialization, manufacturing-process development, production-line implementation and factory or value-stream layout design.
• Strong understanding of assembly and test processes for complex industrial products; experience with electronic controllers or electromechanical products is an advantage.
• Solid knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Design for Manufacturing / Assembly, Six Sigma and structured problem-solving tools.
• Competence in CAPEX evaluation, capacity planning, productivity improvement, cost analysis and budget management.
• Proven ability to lead production launches or complex industrialization programs across functions or sites.
• Ability to coach experienced engineers, challenge technical proposals constructively, delegate with appropriate controls and build team capability.
• Fluent English, with the ability to lead technical and business discussions in a global environment.

What You Will Gain:

• Salary range from 24 500 to 36 000 PLN gross – depending on experience
• Advancement opportunities in international team
• A total rewards package, that includes: private health insurance, life & accidental insurance
• Multisport package
• Meal Vouchers
• Company performance bonus program
• Work-life balance
• PPK: Woodward offers payment to your PPK account up to 4% of your compensation depending on seniority
• Educational support