Value Engineering Manager
A. O. Smith · Wisconsin
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at A. O. Smith (industrial) in Wisconsin. Develop, prioritize, and communicate the VAVE cost‑out roadmap using data‑driven business criteria.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, DMAIC, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Wisconsin: typical posted base $93k–$120k.
Median of the low and high ends of 15 live postings that list pay, out of 46 manufacturing engineer openings in Wisconsin, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Wisconsin plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 45 other live manufacturing postings in Wisconsin.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $93k–$120k, from 15 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 54%
- ✓ Lean 43%
- New product launch 37%
- Machining 33%
- Team leadership 33%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 28%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, SAP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at A. O. Smith
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from A. O. SmithAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Lead VAVE Program Strategy. Develop, prioritize, and communicate the VAVE cost‑out roadmap using data‑driven business criteria.
- ◆Execute Cross‑Functional Cost‑Out Projects. Drive component redesigns, value analysis, DFM/DFA activities, and supplier‑focused cost reduction.
- ◆Financial Modeling & Reporting. Create detailed cost models for material, labor, overhead, tooling, and logistics; validate savings with Finance.
- ◆Guide structured problem solving, including the 8‑Step Problem Solving methodology, RCA, A3 development, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- ◆Stakeholder Collaboration. Serve as central communication point between engineering, operations, sourcing, and leadership teams.
- ◆Governance & Compliance. Maintain full documentation, ensure ECN compliance, and champion standardized VAVE processes.
- ◆Lead and Develop Technical Talent. Direct and mentor engineering project managers, designers, and practitioners. Set expectations for execution discipline, documentation rigor, and cross‑functional partnership.
- ◆Resource Planning & Alignment. Manage resource allocation across VAVE initiatives. Partner with functional engineering leaders on staffing alignment and project review structures.
- ◆Technical Governance & Mentorship. Lead teams in DFM/DFA, cost modeling, prototyping approaches, and validation. Coach emerging engineers to build long‑term organizational capability.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field.
- ✓5+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Value Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering.
- ✓Proven success delivering cost‑out projects and cross‑functional engineering initiatives.
- ✓Strong analytical capability and proficiency in cost modeling.
- ✓Expertise in structured problem solving (DMAIC, A3, RCA, etc.).
- ✓Experience leading or coordinating cross‑functional teams.
- ✓Strategic, data‑driven decision making.
- ✓Technical depth in manufacturing and product engineering.
- ✓Strong communication and executive presentation skills.
- ✓Leadership and coaching capability for engineering managers, designers, and practitioners.
- ✓High accountability, ownership, and execution discipline.
- ✓Commitment to continuous improvement and cross‑functional alignment.
Qualifications
- ✓Lean/Six Sigma certification.
- ✓SAP or relevant ERP experience.
- ✓Multi‑site or global supply chain experience.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority.
We Offer
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ADA Statement & EEO Statement
In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
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Company / Location Information
A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Primary Function
The Value Engineering Manager leads the identification, development, and execution of cost‑out initiatives across the NAWT organization. This role partners cross‑functionally with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Product Management to deliver measurable cost reductions while maintaining or improving product performance, quality, and customer value.