- The NPD/VAVE Engineer serves as a corporate-level engineering resource responsible for driving manufacturability, cost optimization, and standardization across all divisions.
- This role supports New Product Development (NPD) and Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives that align with the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Strategic Business Plan (AME SBP) — specifically under the pillars of Innovation Enablement, Process Optimization, and Operational Excellence.
- By collaborating cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Site Manufacturing Engineering, this role ensures that products are designed and industrialized efficiently, safely, and profitably.
NPD/NPI (New Product Development/Introduction) – Major/Must Have – Must have 5+ years with MFG background
- Serve as the manufacturing engineering representative in product development teams.
- Conduct Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFM/A) reviews during all design gate phases.
- Co-ordinate with IE and AME to develop manufacturing routings, labor standards, and process documentation for NPIs.
- Support Pilot and prototype builds to validate design, process capability and readiness for mass productions.
- Identify and communicate manufacturability issues early in the design to minimize late-stage changes.
- Ensure product launches meet AME’s cost, quality and delivery objectives.
- Identify and lead cost reduction projects across product lines focusing on material, process and design efficiency.
- Collaborate with procurement, design and Operations to implement alternative materials, part consolidations and design simplifications.
- Develop and maintain VAVE project funnel and savings dashboard in alignment with corporate targets.
- Conduct competitive benchmarking, product teardowns, and process cost studies to support ideation.
- Validate and track cost savings through data-driven methods (Std. Labor time, BOM impact, etc.).
Support the deployment and continuous improvement of corporate AME standard, including:
- PFEP (Plan for Every Part).
- Line – Side Stock (LSS) systems
- MBOM accuracy and process routings
- PFMEA templates and work instruction formats.
- Work with site ME to ensure consistent adoption of best practices in fabrication, welding, assembly, and paint.
- Partner with AME Systems, IE and Paint Engineering teams to ensure new product/process alignment with automation and equipment capability.
- Leverage tools such as Oracle Fusion, SigmaNest, Power BI and Excel based models to analyze cost, process and efficiency data.
- Participate in Industry 4.0 Initiatives to bring digital visibility to manufacturing and product performance metrics.
- Drive data-driven decision-making for capacity, labor optimization and cost competitiveness.
- Act as a liaison between Corporate AME, Site ME, Design Engineering, Procurement and Operations teams.
- Facilitate and lead NPD/VAVE review meetings/workshops, ensuring project status, risks and savings realization.
- Provide regular updates to AME leadership on key deliverables, metrics and Strategic Business Plan alignment progress.
- DFM/A reviews and closure reports per product design phase.
- Approved routings and time studies before pilot builds.
- Annual Validated cost savings through VAVE initiatives.
- Standardize AME process documents across all divisions.
- Weekly dashboards and KPI update to AME leadership.
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering. (R)
- Master’s in mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering. (P)
- 5-10 years of relevant experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Product Development or VAVE roles. (R)
- Understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, assembly and paint process. (R)
- Proficiency in AutoCAD and SolidWorks (R)
- Knowledge of Oracle ERP (P) - PLUS
- Strong foundation in Lean Manufacturing, PFMEA, Process Flow and cost analysis. (R)
- Excellent communication and project management for cross-functional integration. (R)
- None
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Office
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to risk of injury in an office environment and occasionally a manufacturing shop plant environment. Duties include a typical office setting including extensive computer work, sitting or standing. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
