Lead Engineer, Manufacturing

Job Title: Lead Engineer, Manufacturing Job Description: THE ROLE Entegris is =seeking a   Lead Engineer, Manufacturing   to join our   CMP Polishing Pads Manufacturing Engineering   team. This position will be based in our   Aurora, IL   facility.   As a new hire in this role, you wil l be responsible   for the back-end manufacturing processes within the CMP Polishing Pads Business Unit at our Aurora 500C facility, with primary ownership of the grooving process (eCAM   4 -axis CNC and   Multicam   4-axis CNC groovers) and the Multicam milling operations. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will drive safety, quality, and productivity improvements, support New Product Introductions (NPIs) and Product Change Notifications (PCNs), and lead continuous improvement, cost-saving, and equipment-qualification initiatives across grooving, milling, and cleaning-room operations.   WHAT YOU'LL DO Manufacturing Process Support (45%)   Provide dedicated engineering leadership for the grooving process, including eCAM concentric and XY grooving, Multicam plunge grooving, and Multicam milling operations.   Serve as the site technical expert for eCAM 5-axis and Multicam 4-axis machines; develop and deliver training and certification for Operation Associates and Engineering Technicians.   Drive safety, quality, and productivity improvements across back-end manufacturing (grooving, milling, and cleaning-room operations).   Lead root-cause investigations of out-of-control conditions; troubleshoot equipment and processes and implement permanent corrective actions.   Develop, optimize, and maintain CNC programs (G-code / M-code), CAM post-processors, and recipe libraries for grooving and milling operations.   Provide hands-on technical support during machine breakdowns; coordinate external repair resources as needed.   Improve the preventative and predictive maintenance program for grooving and milling equipment to maximize uptime and OEE.   Own the Management of Change (MOC/EtQ) process for grooving and milling process changes.   NPI / PCN Engineering Support (25%)   Ensure new product process flows are Designed for Manufacturing (DFM); review all NPI/PCN activities requiring grooving and milling operations.   Manage product scale-ups from Low Volume Manufacturing (LVM) to High Volume Manufacturing (HVM); coordinate process transfers with Product Development.   Partner with Product Development for surfacing (HAAS) and grooving (eCAM) programs — from process development through production readiness.   Design and execute DOE trials to validate new grooving and milling configurations, blade and tooling sets.   Lead MOC documentation and qualification plans for new product introductions and process changes.   Productivity, Continuous Improvement & Cost-Saving Projects (20%)   Identify and implement safety, quality, productivity, and cost improvements across grooving and milling operations.   Act as the dedicated engineering resource to unblock stalled CI and cost-saving initiatives.   Apply statistical tools (SPC/SQC, DOE, Six Sigma) to reduce process variation and improve yield.   Monitor equipment OEE and utilization; drive data-driven improvements using tools such as Amper and thermal imaging.   EHS Support (5%)   Champion environmental, health, and safety compliance across manufacturing areas, with emphasis on grooving dust collection, blade handling, and machine guarding.   Participate in risk assessments, incident investigations, and corrective-action plans.   Model and enforce Entegris’ health, safety, and environmental policies; drive a zero-incident safety culture.   Equipment Design, Installation & Qualification (5%)   Support design, installation, and qualification of customized production equipment, including new eCAM machines and tooling upgrades.   Contribute to the introduction of D4M (Digital for Manufacturing) and automation equipment at the Aurora site.   Support integration of groove measurement systems (e.g., scanning laser, SigPod) and other in-process quality tools.   WHAT WE SEEK Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Polymer Engineering — or related technical field -- re 5–10 years of manufacturing engineering experience required; semiconductor, polymer processing, or CMP industry experience preferred.   3–5+ years of hands-on experience with CNC equipment and/or other manufacturing equipment with   programmable user interfaces required.   Proficiency in CNC recipe (G-code / M-code) creation and modification required.    Experience with statistical software (JMP, Minitab) preferred; knowledge of COBOTS / robotic automation is a plus.   Strong knowledge of CNC machining processes — specifically grooving and milling on multi-axis machines (eCAM 5-axis, Multicam 4-axis).   Proficiency in CNC programming (G-code / M-code), CAM software, and post-processor development.   Hands-on engineering experience with CMP polishing-pad manufacturing processes (polymer processing, lamination, buffing, and surface finishing).   Strong statistical background in Six Sigma, SPC/SQC, DOE, and Lean Manufacturing.   Experience with FMEA, Control Plans, 8D methodology, and structured root-cause analysis.   Effective oral and written communication, including technical presentations to management and cross-functional teams.   Strong knowledge of MS Office; competency with statistical analysis software (JMP, Minitab ) preferred ​A strong, professional presence and the flexibility to work confidently in a dynamic environment, under deadline pressure, and in ambiguous situations. Comfort engaging and building relationships with personnel at all levels of the organization, both internal and external.   OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES WILL HAVE Direct experience with   CNC 4 -axis   machines   in a high-volume environment.   Demonstrated ability to lead & mana