Job description

About ERMCO Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative, Inc. (ERMCO) was founded in 1964 by three electric cooperatives with a mission to deliver reliable transformers to rural communities often overlooked by larger manufacturers. Headquartered in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the company quickly established itself as an innovator—becoming the first U.S. plant exclusively designed to produce single-phase pad-mounted transformers. Over the decades, ERMCO has expanded its capabilities and footprint through facility growth, strategic acquisitions, and continued investment in innovation. ERMCO designs and manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of liquid-filled distribution transformers, including single-phase and three-phase pad-mounted and pole-mounted transformers, supported by a full range of components such as amorphous and silicon steel transformer cores, fuses, bushings, disconnect switches, and circuit breakers. Today, nearly 3,500 employees across eight sites in North America support the company’s role as a leader in powering energy grids to meet evolving customer demand. Now more than ever, ERMCO is positioned to be the industry’s Most Valued Partner. About ERMCO’s Arizona Facility Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative, Inc. (ERMCO) is expanding into the Greater Phoenix market with a new 566,121-square-foot manufacturing facility in Waddell. The site will strengthen ERMCO’s Three-Phase transformer production and create new opportunities to advance automated manufacturing capabilities. This marks ERMCO’s first expansion west of the Mississippi River. Operational readiness is underway, with the first transformer set to be manufactured in 2027. ERMCO is offering long-term career opportunities across engineering, skilled trades, and operations. Team members at this facility will help build scalable processes, embed best practices, and drive alignment across the enterprise—playing a key role in shaping how work is done at ERMCO both locally and companywide. Job Summary The Site Manufacturing Engineering Manager will play a critical leadership role in launching, scaling, and optimizing operations at ERMCO’s new manufacturing facility in Waddell, AZ. This role is responsible for building and leading the site manufacturing engineering function while driving safe, efficient, and high-quality production processes in a high-growth, greenfield environment. As a key member of the site leadership team, this individual will oversee process design, capacity planning, automation strategy, and continuous improvement initiatives to support plant startup and long-term operational excellence. The role will also ensure alignment with ERMCO’s established engineering standards and best practices through close collaboration with the Dyersburg, TN facility. During the initial ramp-up phase, this role will require frequent travel to Dyersburg for knowledge transfer, process alignment, and partnership with experienced engineering and operations teams. Candidates with transformer manufacturing experience, particularly in distribution transformers, and a strong background in automation and advanced manufacturing technologies are highly preferred. This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on, strategic leader who thrives in building teams, developing scalable processes, and driving performance in a startup/greenfield manufacturing environment. This role will be onsite in Waddell, AZ. Relocation Assistance is available. Leadership & Team Development • Build, lead, and develop the site Manufacturing Engineering team, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management. • Establish engineering standards, processes, and KPIs to support operational excellence and continuous improvement. • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and collaboration across the engineering and operations teams. Manufacturing Process & Operations Support • Lead the design, development, and optimization of manufacturing processes to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production. • Oversee plant layout, material flow, equipment selection, and workspace design to maximize throughput and scalability. • Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Design Engineering to ensure alignment on production capabilities and requirements. • Responsible for ensuring up time reliable operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of all facility equipment systems (e.g., HVAC, electrical systems, utilities, etc). • Responsible for ensuring adherence to predictive maintenance processes that reduce the amount of down time. Startup & Capacity Planning • Support facility startup activities, including equipment commissioning, process validation, and production ramp planning. • Develop production standards, labor models, and capacity plans to support current and future business needs. • Evaluate and implement process improvements to support cost, quality, and delivery objectives. Automation & Technology Strategy • Lead the site’s automation roadmap, including the implementation of robotics, PLCs, conveyor systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies. • Partner with internal and external resources to evaluate, select, and integrate new equipment and technologies. • Drive digital manufacturing initiatives and data-driven decision-making. Cross-Site Alignment & Continuous Improvement • Ensure alignment with ERMCO’s engineering standards, best practices, and operational frameworks. • Collaborate closely with the Dyersburg engineering team for training, benchmarking, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Utilize lean manufacturing principles and statistical analysis to improve performance and drive operational excellence. Supplier & Stakeholder Collaboration • Partner with suppliers and vendors on equipment, tooling, materials, and process requirements. • Support sourcing decisions through technical evaluation and cost analysis. • Communicate effectively with site leadership and executive stakeholders on progress, risks, and opportunities. Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field. • 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, including progressive responsibility in a manufacturing environment. • 2+ years of leadership experience (direct people leadership or team/project leadership). Preferred Qualifications • Experience in transformer manufacturing, electrical equipment, or heavy industrial manufacturing to include; metal fabrication, laser welding, powder coating, high level complexity electrical-mechanical final assembly integration and functional testing. • Strong background in automation, robotics, PLCs, and advanced manufacturing technologies. • Proven experience supporting new plant startups, expansions, or major process transformations. • Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams in a fast-paced environment. • Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies. • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and regulatory standards. • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization. Travel Requirements • Frequent travel to Dyersburg, TN during initial startup phase; reduced travel expected post-launch. Let’s Build the Future Together At ERMCO, your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your impact is real. Whether you’re building on early career experience or launching your professional journey, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow in a manufacturing environment that values innovation and collaboration. Join ERMCO and TRANSFORM your career! US-AZ-Waddell

Requirements

Must-haves

During the initial ramp-up phase, this role will require frequent travel to Dyersburg for knowledge transfer, process alignment, and partnership with experienced engineering and operations teams.
This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on, strategic leader who thrives in building teams, developing scalable processes, and driving performance in a startup/greenfield manufacturing environment.
This role will be onsite in Waddell, AZ. Relocation Assistance is available.
Leadership & Team Development
Build, lead, and develop the site Manufacturing Engineering team, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management.
Establish engineering standards, processes, and KPIs to support operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and collaboration across the engineering and operations teams.
Manufacturing Process & Operations Support
Lead the design, development, and optimization of manufacturing processes to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production.
Oversee plant layout, material flow, equipment selection, and workspace design to maximize throughput and scalability.
Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Design Engineering to ensure alignment on production capabilities and requirements.
Responsible for ensuring up time reliable operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of all facility equipment systems (e.g., HVAC, electrical systems, utilities, etc).

Nice-to-haves

Candidates with transformer manufacturing experience, particularly in distribution transformers, and a strong background in automation and advanced manufacturing technologies are highly preferred.
Strong background in automation, robotics, PLCs, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Proven experience supporting new plant startups, expansions, or major process transformations.
Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and regulatory standards.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Travel Requirements
Frequent travel to Dyersburg, TN during initial startup phase; reduced travel expected post-launch.
Let’s Build the Future Together
Join ERMCO and TRANSFORM your career!

Application prep

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Platform: icims
Effort: medium