Principal Manufacturing Engineer

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make “good things, for life.”  As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we’re powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way.  We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together.  

The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities. 

Interested in joining us on our journey? 

Join a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment where innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement drive everything we do. We are seeking a strategic and technically strong Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead critical manufacturing initiatives within our top-freezer refrigeration operations.

In this highly visible leadership role, you will serve as a key technical authority responsible for optimizing manufacturing performance, enhancing equipment reliability, and driving process excellence across the plant. You’ll partner closely with Operations, Quality, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, and cross-functional leadership teams to support new product introductions, execute major capital projects, and deliver world-class manufacturing results.

Position

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Location

USA, Decatur, AL

How You'll Create Possibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineering strategy and execution across production operations, facilities, tooling, maintenance, and process improvement initiatives

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering organization focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement

• Drive large-scale capital and infrastructure projects aligned with plant objectives, productivity targets, and long-term growth plans

• Partner with Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) and Advanced Quality Engineering (AQE) teams to support successful product launches and manufacturing readiness

• Champion safety, ergonomics, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Human Organizational Performance (HOP) principles throughout the operation

• Develop and implement reliability and preventative maintenance strategies to improve uptime, efficiency, and overall equipment performance

• Lead “Run the Plant” initiatives focused on productivity, quality, cost reduction, and operational performance

• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, technical development, and Lean manufacturing excellence

What You'll Bring to Our Team

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline or equivalent experience

• 7+ years in progressive manufacturing or supply chain leadership roles

Preferred Qualifications:

• Appliance manufacturing background, especially across laundry or other high-volume assembly operations

• Solid operational plant finance background and understanding

• Experience managing large manufacturing and engineering projects

• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, grow and maintain a skilled engineering team

• Fluent with Lean manufacturing principles 

• Proven communication skills – will be expected to communicate to all levels of the organization

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of cross-functional program deliverables and ability to drive decisions based on the overall benefit to the company

• Experience implementing and/or operating under Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) system

• Direct management experience for highly skilled engineering teams

• Experience with implementing Lean process improvement in a manufacturing operation

Our Culture

Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.