Senior Manager, DFA and Mechanical Engineering

General Overview

Functional Area:  Engineering        
SAP Short Name:  SMG-ENG-DME 
Job Level:  Level 11
IC/MGR: Individual Contributor        
Direct/Indirect Indicator:  Indirect    

Summary

Are you a strategic engineering leader passionate about bridging the gap between complex product design and seamless manufacturing? At Celestica, we are seeking a visionary Senior Manager, DFA and Mechanical Engineering to lead our global design efforts for assembly and serviceability. In this high-impact role, you will lead a talented, multi-national team of DFA and Mechanical Engineers. Your primary mission is to own assembly, handling, and serviceability as core design properties across tray and rack systems—focusing on critical elements like cable routing, fastening, tool clearance, ergonomics, and field replaceability. You will ensure that our cutting-edge products can not only be assembled at peak production rates but can also be efficiently serviced in the field.

Detailed Description

Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Strategic Design Ownership: Own and define the Design for Assembly (DFA) rule set. You will dictate the standards for access, tool clearance, handling, ergonomics, Field Replaceable Unit (FRU) architecture, and overall service strategy for tray and rack systems.

• Proactive Analysis & Modeling: Run rigorous pre-DFA assessments during the design phase. You will model assembly sequences, check for interferences, and proactively challenge build methods before they are released.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Drive DFA findings to resolution by partnering closely with Mechanical and Industrial Design teams. You will also own the mechanical interface into rack integration, as well as thermal and cold plate assemblies.

• Continuous Improvement loop: Collaborate with site assembly and tooling engineering teams during trial builds to analyze cycle times and operator-induced defect modes. You will feed real-world assembly and field service learnings directly back into your rule sets and design guidelines.

• Global Leadership: Inspire, lead, and develop a high-performing team of engineers spanning across our hubs in Richardson, Shanghai, and Penang.

What You Will Deliver

• Comprehensive DFA rule sets and assembly/serviceability guidelines.

• Pre-DFA reports and robust assembly sequence models.

• Documented DFA findings and their dispositions.

• Clear, strategic inputs for tooling and fixture requirements.

Role Clarification: To ensure success, it is important to note that this is a design-defining role, not a site-level assembly process engineering role. You will define what the product design must allow for, but you will not be responsible for designing the physical fixtures or the factory line layout.

How We Measure Success

• Successful disposition of all DFA findings prior to Design Verification Testing (DVT).

• Achievement of actual assembly cycle times against your modeled expectations.

• Reduction and minimization of operator-induced defect rates.

• Hitting targeted FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) service times.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

• Proven leadership experience managing global mechanical engineering or DFx teams.

• Deep technical expertise in Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Serviceability.

• Strong background in mechanical integrations, specifically regarding rack and tray architectures, thermal management, and cold plate assemblies.

• A strategic mindset with the ability to push back on design flaws and champion buildability and ergonomics.

Physical Demands

• Duties of this position are performed in a normal office environment.
• Duties may require extended periods of sitting and sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data. 
• Repetitive manual movements (e.g., data entry, using a computer mouse, using a calculator, etc.) are frequently required.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Typical Experience

• 8-11 years in a similar role or industry.

Typical Education

Bachelor degree or consideration of an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Educational Requirements may vary by Geography

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.