Process Engineering Manager

About the role

You will own and lead the Production Process function at Halter, building the team, operating cadence, and standards required to deliver stable and scalable production outcomes. You will translate production engineering strategy into clear quarterly priorities, project plans, and ownership across the team. Your role involves owning process engineering execution across assigned lines and products, ensuring the team improves FPY, throughput, cycle time, rework, and escape prevention. You will create a high-performance operating cadence for priorities, project reviews, escalation paths, risk visibility, documentation quality, and follow-through. You will set standards for process validation, readiness evidence, work instructions, training, process controls, and reaction plans. You will drive cross-functional alignment with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Design, Test, and Machine Design so changes land quickly and safely on the line. You will coach engineers to solve from first principles, bring data-backed recommendations, and own outcomes end-to-end. You will make balanced trade-offs between velocity and rigour, escalating only the highest-risk calls while building team capability and leveraging faster than headcount growth.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead and develop the Production Process team through hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, feedback, and career growth.
• Translate production engineering strategy into clear quarterly priorities, project plans, and explicit ownership across the team.
• Own process engineering execution across assigned lines and products, driving improvements in FPY, throughput, cycle time, rework, and escape prevention.
• Create and maintain a high-performance operating cadence for priorities, project reviews, escalation paths, risk visibility, documentation quality, and disciplined follow-through.
• Set and uphold standards for process validation, readiness evidence, work instructions, training, process controls, and reaction plans.
• Drive cross-functional alignment with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Design, Test, and Machine Design to ensure changes deploy quickly and safely on the line.
• Coach engineers to solve problems from first principles, present data-backed recommendations, and own outcomes end-to-end.
• Make balanced trade-offs between velocity and rigour, escalating only the highest-risk calls to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Build team capability and leverage effectively to stay ahead of headcount growth.
• Define and track key process metrics to identify root causes of variation and drive corrective action.
• Partner with Quality to reduce escape rates and improve conformance through robust controls and clear standards.
• Standardize work instructions and training materials to ensure consistent execution across shifts and operators.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to align production schedules, changeovers, and material flow with operational capacity.
• Support the design and validation of new production equipment and processes to meet scalability and safety requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable gains in reliability, efficiency, and safety.

Requirements

• Experience leading manufacturing or process engineering teams in a high-velocity production environment.
• Strong ability to set standards, coach engineers, and create leverage through others.
• Comfortable making trade-offs between velocity and rigour, with strong judgement on when to escalate risk.
• Models Halter's leadership principles: talent-obsessed, demanding and supportive, authentic, high ownership, front-of-the-jersey decision making, and strong dynamic range.
• Demonstrated success in driving process improvements, FPY, throughput, cycle time reduction, and rework elimination.
• Proven ability to establish process validation, readiness evidence, and control plans for production activities.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams to align on priorities and execute changes safely and efficiently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to set expectations, document standards, and lead clear escalation paths.

Practical notes

• Full-time based in Auckland.
• This role requires a high level of ownership, judgement, and comfort with ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
• If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply below by sending through your cover letter explaining why you're excited about this role and working at Halter, along with your CV, and we'll be in touch.
• Please also feel free to check out the careers page https://www.halterhq.com/careers for more information on working at Halter and don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/halter-limited & Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifeathalter/.
• Work that genuinely matters. Every now and then a company comes along that transforms an entire industry and leaves the world in a better place. Our team gets to be part of something truly meaningful, helping farmers improve their livelihoods, spend more time with their families, and build more sustainable farming operations.
• A culture built for high performance. We out-think, out-work, and out-care. We're committed to delivering real change in the world and we love that it is hard.
• A talented and diverse team that challenges you to grow and make front-of-the-jersey decisions.
• Meaningful career development in a fast-growing environment backed by Tier 1 investors including Founders Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, BOND, DCVC, Blackbird, Promus Ventures, Rocket Lab's Peter Beck, and Icehouse Ventures.
• The opportunity to join a mission that is redefining an entire industry and creating impact for farmers, graziers, and the environment.
• A workplace where you can be yourself and do the best work of your life.
• Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under-represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement. If you think you have what it takes but don't necessarily tick every requirement on this job description, please still get in touch and apply to Halter. We'd love to chat to see if you'll be an epic fit.
• If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply below by sending through your cover letter explaining why you're excited about this role and working at Halter, along with your CV, and we'll be in touch!
• Please also feel free to check out the careers page https://www.halterhq.com/careers for more information on working at Halter and don't forget to follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/halter-limited & Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifeathalter/.