The Manufacturing Lead is someone who thrives on challenge and continually looks for opportunities to learn. This role is responsible for ensuring production assembly cell is actively engaged to meet daily customer demand and production schedule. The Manufacturing Lead provides effective training to the assembly cell as needed and ensures safety and quality standards are maintained at all times. The Manufacturing Lead may provide up to 50% direct labor contribution to assemble products using a variety of hand tools, fixtures, mechanical work instructions and test equipment to perform a series of operations to correctly assemble/test complex laser devices and/or systems.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Works with supervisor and other team leads to manage and prioritize staffing assignments in accordance with customer demand and ensure production schedules are met

• Participates in staffing projections

• Assists in facilitating the scheduling of team overtime and PTO in accordance with policy

• Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality of area employees

• Launches the work shift in accordance with effective resourcing and productivity requirements; Participate and/or lead cross shift turnover meetings to ensure smooth transition between shifts

• Provides written mid-shift status to plan and end of shift performance updates to Production Supervisor, which include issues and action plans for recovery of current activities/unit throughput, safety/quality/equipment issues, problem lots with specific information requiring follow-up, and assistance requests; along with any appropriate supporting documentation

• Maintains a positive work environment for employees

• Handles front line performance issues; Communicates with employees in a respectful manner regarding time management and workmanship issues; Notifies Supervision when further action is required to improve performance

• Is sensitive to, and proactively supports the maintenance of a harassment/discrimination free environment

• Avoids favoritism, or the perception of favoritism in leadership duties

• Gives objective, fact based input for performance reviews and measurements

• Demonstrates ability to motivate others to meet demands established by the schedule

• Leads shift production performance objectives by delegating duties, assigning tasks, and following up with all team members as needed during the shift

• Coordinates resources to move among teams to support overall t-put goals of the cleanroom

• Assists with labor management costs through support of appropriate overtime scheduling practices and employee time management behaviors

• Demonstrates Intimate knowledge of all area manufacturing equipment and tools

• Executes and coordinates employee training to ensure that procedures are followed and meet all quality requirements, coaching existing employees as required

• Works with employees to improve/maintain performance in order to meet team continuous improvement objectives

• Uses basic problem solving skills to ensure stable operation of the work cell

• Report problems or concerns with quality, processes, equipment, materials and labor to Production Supervisor

• Submits equipment failure work request support tickets to Process Engineering or IT teams as required

• Notifies appropriate party/parties when process is out of control

• Participates in root cause analysis of out of control conditions

• Participates in process or router changes as necessary

• Works closely with support staff such as Technicians, Process/Product Engineering, Production Supervisor, Materials/Warehouse, IT teams to resolve issues quickly and completely

• Observes, maintains, coordinates and completes standard work programs

• Updates weekly daily/hourly production metrics and facilitate regular team communication through the use of team SQP and scheduling boards, electronic tracking files (Excel or other), and email

• Identifies and supports continuous improvement efforts with Production Supervisor

• Sustains and drives Lean manufacturing and 5S activities

• Participates as an active member of the production assembly team and assembles products as needed

• Follows documented policies and procedures as designated by the company’s Quality System

• Follows detailed assembly instructions, processes and procedures

• Maintains a clean and organized work area to facilitate manufacturing functions

• Has ability to work a reasonable amount of overtime as required to meet production output schedules

• Has ability to work various shift schedules, including the possibility of compressed or off-shift (night) according to the shift structure business needs

• Suggests and implements cost-saving ideas

• Investigates and reports all safety incidents which occur on shift, participates in site safety committee

• Manages time effectively and meets all job responsibilities

• Acts with integrity and honesty while promoting the nLight culture

• Performs related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates

QUALIFICATIONS:    MINIMUM

1. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: 
   • High school diploma or equivalent and 2-3 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
   • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
   • Basic understanding of computers and Local Area Network navigation
   • Basic math skills
   • Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
   • Ability to communicate effectively through oral and written communications
   • Ability to analyze and solve problems independently
   • Ability to work with others collaboratively
   • Strong organizational skills

PREFERRED:

• Experience leading teams or projects strongly desired
• Strong inter-personnel skills with employees of differing cultural, language, and educational backgrounds
• Laser device and component manufacturing experience
• Lean manufacturing and continual process improvement experience
• Axapta software proficiency experience strongly desired

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel very small items without difficulty
• Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, reach with hands at ar-ms-length, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, and crouch
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Specific vision requirements include close vision, color vision, and depth perception vision
• Ability to gown cleanroom attire and wear required Personal Protective equipment (PPE) for extended periods of time including laser safety protective eyewear

NOTE:

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the job. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in the job. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of nLight.

nLIGHT is subject to US Export Control regulations. To qualify for this position, a Foreign Person (that is, not a US Citizen or legal Permanent Resident) must be eligible for a deemed export license under the US Department of Commerce and/or the US Department of State.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: “EEO is the Law” and its accompanying temporary supplement.  If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (360) 566-4460 or Hr@nlight.net.

ABOUT NLIGHT nLIGHT is a rapidly growing vertically integrated supplier of high-performance lasers that enable innovation in materials processing, microelectronics and defense applications. nLIGHT develops and manufactures fiber lasers based on industry-leading semiconductor laser and optical fiber technology. nLIGHT is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington with additional sites in North America, Asia and Europe. nLIGHT lasers are not only changing the way things are made, but what can be made.