TPM, Fixed

About the role

Dandy is on the lookout for a skilled Technical Program Manager to join our Automation Team. This position plays a vital role in the design and implementation of automated manufacturing equipment. You will be at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that our systems meet the highest quality standards in the dental manufacturing sector.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee the technical, operational, and deployment phases of automation projects within the manufacturing sector.
• Innovate and enhance factory processes to maximize efficiency in automated production.
• Partner with factory staff to set and meet goals related to automation and ongoing improvements.
• Collaborate with the factory team to outline requirements, develop concepts, and visualize workflows for automated manufacturing.
• Create detailed requests for quotations and proposals that outline equipment designs, delivery schedules, and acceptance criteria.
• Liaise with vendors during the machine construction phase to ensure compliance with Dandy's specifications.
• Ensure that vendors meet Dandy's ARS specifications and requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate and approve vendor designs, processes, and automation solutions.
• Organize and conduct factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and the commissioning of new automation equipment.
• Facilitate the integration of new machinery into existing factory operations, coordinating closely with engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Track and analyze operational efficiency, yield, and manufacturing metrics, such as CpK and FMEA, to drive continuous improvement.
• Provide regular updates on project progress to executive leadership and escalate any issues as needed.
• Establish ambitious objectives and devise actionable plans to achieve them.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in advanced manufacturing and high-speed custom automation, covering areas like automation engineering, process engineering, and technical program management.
• Demonstrated ability to convert new product introduction requirements into large-scale custom automation solutions.
• Experience in prioritizing tasks for automation engineering teams and suppliers from initial concept through SAT and training phases.
• Proven track record of managing high-budget projects while overseeing expenditures with external vendors.
• Familiarity with value engineering, contract management, and the RFQ to purchase order process, including managing non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes in complex environments.
• Capacity to manage automation programs with minimal oversight and direction.
• Excellent leadership, project management, communication, collaboration, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• In-depth knowledge of process and assembly automation, including equipment validation through FAT/SAT, optical inspection, GR&R, OEE, and line balancing.
• Ability to convey technical updates clearly to executive audiences.
• Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, equipment suppliers, and technical consultants.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 30% of the time.
• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with ceramics, CNC machining, spray applications, or inkjet printing technologies.
• Experience with plastics, 3D printing, thermoforming, or injection molding processes.
• Background in technical writing, specifically in creating machine user requirements specifications.
• Experience in negotiating contracts for capital expenditures.
• Knowledge of FDA-regulated manufacturing environments, including ISO 13485 standards, change control processes, and equipment validation (IQ, OQ, PQ).
• A positive demeanor and a passion for your work.
• Experience in scaling operations within a high-growth startup environment.

Skills & tools

• Automation Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Technical Program Management
• Manufacturing
• Project Management
• Vendor Management
• RFQ/RFP
• FAT/SAT
• OEE
• CpK
• FMEA
• ISO 13485 (preferred)
• IQ/OQ/PQ (preferred)

Practical notes

• This position requires international travel of up to 30%.
• Dandy offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare, dental care, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings plans, and paid time off.
• Dandy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities to ensure a supportive work environment.

About the company

A Dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance and personal grooming, refined language and leisurely hobbies. A Dandy could be a self-made man both in person and persona, who emulated the aristocratic style of life regardless of his middle-class origin, birth, and background, especially during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Britain.