Manufacturing Manager
Howmet Aerospace · Dover, NJ
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Dover, NJ. Maintain a strong line of communication across all levels of the organization, ensuring transparency and alignment between management, production teams, and support staff.
- They ask for
- Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Value stream mapping, OEE, Casting
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in New Jersey: typical posted base $115k–$155k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 44 manufacturing engineer openings in New Jersey, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
New Jersey plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 43 other live manufacturing postings in New Jersey.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $115k–$155k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 80%
- ✓ Team leadership 80%
- Root cause 77%
- ✓ 5S 73%
- Capacity planning 73%
- Time studies 68%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Kaizen, Value stream mapping, OEE, Casting, 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 Howmet Aerospace
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Michael → (free) - 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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.
This plant: Howmet Aerospace in Dover
7 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in manufacturing roles at Howmet Aerospace.
- Quality Engineering Technician · Quality
- Maintenance Mechanic A - 3rd Shift (Alloy) · Reliability · Technician
- Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Engineering Manager · Manufacturing · Manager
- Plant Manager (Casting) · Production · Manager
- Production Supervisor - Multiple Shifts · Production · Supervisor
Manufacturing Manager at Howmet Aerospace in other locations
Howmet Aerospace lists this title in 5 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Howmet Aerospace Engines division seeks an experienced and dynamic leader to join our team in Dover, New Jersey! Howmet Dover Casting is a world-class supplier of complex, investment-cast turbine airfoils and other components for the aircraft engine and industrial gas turbine industries.
The Manufacturing Manager is critical to driving manufacturing excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering operational results. This role is responsible for ensuring the achievement of key performance indicators such as quality, productivity, cycle time, delivery, and cash flow, while also maintaining customer satisfaction. In addition, this position is accountable for leading and coaching hourly employees and manufacturing support staff, focusing on fostering a culture of operational excellence and lean practices to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.
Leadership in Operational Excellence
- •Lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives in the plant through lean manufacturing principles such as Kaizen, 5S, and value stream mapping to eliminate waste and optimize processes.
- •Use lean tools to reduce work-in-progress (WIP), cycle time, and operational bottlenecks, contributing to the improvement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
- •Implement and champion initiatives to improve product flow and eliminate constraints, ensuring effective resource utilization and smoother operations.
- •Lead the development and implementation of standard operating procedures aimed at achieving operational excellence and process optimization.
- •Ensure the team’s focus on cost reduction and quality improvement, while maintaining high standards of customer satisfaction.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Accountability Across the Organization
- •Foster a culture of accountability at all levels of the organization, ensuring that every employee takes responsibility for their actions, outputs, and contributions to the team’s success.
- •Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members, including direct reports, accountable for meeting organizational goals and objectives.
- •Implement transparent and objective tracking systems to monitor progress on key metrics and goals, ensuring that individuals and teams are aligned with plant and company objectives.
- •Ensure a proactive approach to identifying and addressing performance gaps, and lead efforts to implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
- •Champion an environment where employees take ownership of their work, making data-driven decisions to optimize productivity and process outcomes.
Team Leadership and Talent Empowerment
- •Identify and remove obstacles to productivity at both individual and systemic levels, ensuring all employees are equipped with the necessary tools and training to perform.
- •Develop and mentor talent through cross-training initiatives, ensuring a flexible and high-performing team aligned with business goals.
- •Foster a collaborative culture with an emphasis on open communication and a continuous learning mindset.
- •Conduct regular performance reviews and feedback sessions to assess individual and team progress, and identify areas for improvement and development.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
- •Maintain a strong line of communication across all levels of the organization, ensuring transparency and alignment between management, production teams, and support staff.
- •Develop and execute clear and concise action plans based on data analysis, customer feedback, and operational insights.
- •Act as a liaison between different departments (e.g., engineering, procurement, maintenance) to ensure smooth coordination of production activities and resource management.
- •Communicate operational metrics and results regularly to upper management, ensuring data-driven decision-making and alignment with business objectives.
Continuous Improvement and Performance Metrics
- •Ensure key performance indicators such as TRR (Total Recordable Rate), LU (Labor Utilization), OEE, and variable cost per hour are forecasted, monitored, and continuously improved.
- •Drive data-driven decision-making by analyzing production data, interpreting trends, and providing actionable insights to improve efficiency and minimize downtime.
- •Actively participate in audits, using the feedback to refine processes and maintain continuous improvement efforts.
Operational and Strategic Planning
- •Collaborate with the plant manager and staff to develop budgets, strategic plans, and team goals that align with organizational objectives.
- •Ensure that labor and equipment needs are accurately forecasted based on long-term production forecasts, helping to optimize resource allocation and plant performance.
- •Make timely decisions based on business needs and production priorities, balancing short-term adjustments with long-term strategic goals.
Safety and Quality Assurance
- •Lead safety initiatives and compliance with safety regulations, ensuring a culture of safety within the manufacturing environment.
- •Develop and enforce processes designed to reduce waste and improve product quality while maintaining or improving production timelines.
- •Continuously improve the safety standards and work practices in the plant by engaging the team in proactive problem-solving.
Job Specifications
- •Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis tools.
- •Strong ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, fostering open and transparent dialogues that support collaborative problem-solving and decision-making.
- •Must be able to lead and inspire a team in a fast-paced, results-driven environment, ensuring that all employees are aligned with the plant’s operational goals and quality standards.
- •Flexible work hours may be required, including occasional nights and weekends.
Anticipated Pay Range: $120k-$150k per year. *Pay rates within this range are determined based on various factors including experience, education, certifications,
