NPI ENGINEER

Requirements

Min. Diploma / Degree in Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering or equivalent, or with few years experience in HDD.
3-5 years in New Product Introduction (NPI), precision machining/manufacturing: HDD or Automotive precision component experience preferred.
Strong project management skills with proven track record managing cross-functional NPI programs in a precision manufacturing environment.
Solid working knowledge of DFM/DFMA principles, GD&T, and precision machining processes (CNC turning/milling, surface treatment).
Competent in costing/feasibility analysis, including cycle time estimation, tooling cost, and capacity planning.
Strong analytical capability in build quality data - SPC, Cpk/Ppk, Gage R&R, defect Pareto analysis (Minitab or equivalent).
Working knowledge of OEE methodology and production ramp-up management.
Experience with APQP/PPAP/FMEA and structured root cause problem-solving (8D, Fishbone, 5-Why).
Strong communication and customer-facing skills: experienced engaging SQE/customer engineering teams (HDD/precision component customers preferred).
Proficient in MS Project/Excel for program tracking and costing models.

Responsibilities

NPI Program Management
Lead NPI coordination for new products/parts from concept, engineering sample (ES), design validation (DVT) through production validation (PVT) and mass production (MP) readiness.
Design for Manufacturability (DFM) & Engineering Review
Conduct DFM review on all new part design/drawings, identifying cost impact, yield risk, tolerance stack-up issues, and process incompatibility prior to sample build.
Costing & Feasibility
Prepare costing and feasibility studies for new part enquiries/RFQs within agreed turnaround time, covering material, machine cycle time, tooling, labour, and overhead.
NPI Build & Build Quality Review
Plan and execute NPI sample builds (ES/DVT/PVT), coordinating machine allocation, tooling, and manpower to meet build schedules.
OEE, Production Ramp-Up & Exit Criteria
Define stage-gate exit criteria for each NPI phase (DFM sign-off, sample build approval, PPAP approval, ramp readiness) in line with company product gate process.
Cross-Functional & Customer Interface.
Act as primary NPI point of contact for SQE and customer engineering teams throughout the programs life cycle.