Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Quality

Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Quality:

Architectural Lighting Manufacturing | Greater Boston

Xico Lighting is a fast-growing architectural lighting manufacturer operating in the specification market. Our products combine high-performance optics, precision mechanical design, and configurable manufacturing. As the business scales, we are formalizing our delivery systems to ensure repeatability, quality, and on-time execution without sacrificing flexibility.

We are seeking a Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Quality to build and lead the systems that translate sold orders into production-ready work packages — consistently, accurately, and at scale.

This is a hands-on senior role for someone who has already built manufacturing and quality systems in a complex, configurable product environment.

The Role:

This role owns manufacturing engineering and quality as execution disciplines, not support functions.

You will be responsible for designing and running the post-sale → production-ready workflow, including shop drawings, BOM finalization, work packets, quality systems, and compliance. Your mandate is to remove variability, reduce dependence on individual heroics, and enable predictable manufacturing performance.

You will work closely with the Director of Manufacturing, Production Planning & Materials, Product Design, and Sales Operations.

Core Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Engineering & Delivery Systems:

• Own the post-sale documentation pipeline:
  • Shop drawings.
  • BOM finalization.
  • Assembly instructions.
  • Work packets.
• Convert product platforms and configurations into rules-based, repeatable outputs.
• Eliminate ad-hoc, order-by-order engineering wherever possible.
• Define and enforce a “production-ready” release gate.
• Drive ECN/ECR discipline and configuration control.
• Support NPI handoff from Product Design into Manufacturing.

Quality & Compliance:

• Build and maintain a preventive quality system, not a reactive one.
• Define QC checkpoints embedded in work packets and routing.
• Lead corrective and preventive action (CAPA).
• Own UL / ETL / compliance documentation as it relates to manufacturing execution.
• Improve yields, reduce rework, scrap, and field issues.

Leadership & Systems Thinking:

• Lead and develop manufacturing engineering and quality resources.
• Establish standards, templates, and operating cadence.
• Partner with Manufacturing to improve throughput, consistency, and execution.
• Act as a senior execution leader — not a task expeditor.

What Success Looks Like:

The right candidate will immediately begin driving measurable improvements, including:

• Faster and more consistent conversion of orders into production-ready work packets.
• Reduced dependency on Product Design for order execution.
• Improved on-time delivery and schedule adherence.
• Fewer quality escapes and less rework.
• Clear accountability and visibility into readiness and constraints.

This is not a “12–18 month ramp” role. Impact should be visible early.

Required Background:

We are very selective about this role. You should apply only if you meet most of the following:

• 10+ years in manufacturing engineering, quality, or operations leadership.
• Prior experience building systems, not just maintaining them.
• Experience in configurable, engineered-to-order or high-mix manufacturing.
• Strong mechanical engineering foundation.
• Demonstrated ability to create:
  • Standardized documentation.
  • Repeatable workflows.
  • Clear handoffs between functions.
• Comfort operating on the factory floor and in systems/tools.
• Experience with UL / compliance in a manufacturing context is strongly preferred.

This Role Is Not a Fit If You Are Primarily:

• A laboratory or test-focused quality professional.
• A documentation or compliance-only quality manager.
• A junior engineering manager looking for first director role.
• Uncomfortable holding peers accountable to standards.
• Looking for a narrowly scoped or purely advisory position.

This role requires ownership, judgment, and execution rigor.

Compensation & Location:

• Senior director-level compensation, commensurate with experience.
• Strong benefits including retirement matching.
• On-site role in the Greater Boston area manufacturing environment.

Why Xico:

• Real manufacturing complexity — not commodity products.
• Opportunity to build systems that matter and will endure.
• Direct impact on delivery performance, quality, and growth.
• Leadership team that values rigor, clarity, and accountability.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a resume that clearly demonstrates system-building experience in manufacturing engineering and quality. Generic quality or engineering resumes will not be considered.

Designing Light That Moves People. At Xico Lighting, we don’t just build lighting — we craft experiences that elevate how people see, feel, and perform. We believe that light is one of the most powerful tools in architecture, and our mission is to push the boundaries of what’s possible with precision-engineered, beautifully designed, human-centric lighting systems.We’re a team of designers, engineers, and makers united by a shared obsession: making light work smarter, look better, and feel more natural. From our breakthrough circadian technologies to our architectural-grade linear systems, everything we build is designed with intention — to bring elegance, simplicity, and performance to modern spaces.We work fast, think rigorously, and execute with craft. Our culture is built on curiosity, respect, and the belief that great ideas can come from anywhere. We believe in empowering talent — giving people the tools, trust, and autonomy to own their impact.