Principal, Manufacturing Systems Engineer EMEA

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

This role reports directly to the Director, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering in EMEA and collaborates closely with Product Risk Engineering, the Product Creation Centre, other Manufacturing Systems Engineering teams, Material Quality Engineers, and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering teams. The role aligns and advances Nike's strategic apparel manufacturing goals and continuous improvement objectives, supporting the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies that strengthen foundational capabilities and connect systems across the network.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is looking for a Principal, Manufacturing Systems Engineer based in Istanbul, Türkiye. This role is a key member of the Manufacturing Engineering team, responsible for driving the development and implementation of foundational capabilities in Textile Engineering, Quality, Lean, and Industrial Engineering, while ensuring alignment with Nike's strategic manufacturing initiatives.

• Bachelor's degree, minimum 8-10 years of experience in Apparel Manufacturing Systems Engineering or a related field, with a good foundation in Quality, Lean, Industrial Engineering, and Textile Engineering; Fabric Technologies.
• Experience in knitted fabric production, including dyeing, finishing, screen and sublimation printing, and heat transfer techniques.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, anticipate risks, and drive timely resolution.
• Solid understanding of garment manufacturing technologies and their application to enhancing product quality and operational efficiency.
• Ability to prioritize and guide projects and stakeholders at different levels across the organization.
• Experience implementing and sustaining continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, with a data-informed approach to decision-making and operational excellence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an interest in optimizing manufacturing processes. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook; experience with additional collaboration or data analysis tools is a plus.
• Experience in process engineering, including process improvement, control, and optimization projects. Familiarity with General Sewing Data (GSD) and factory capacity planning and management is a plus.

• Leadership: You will develop and implement Quality, Lean, Industrial Engineering, and Textile Engineering principles across Nike's manufacturing partner base, helping elevate overall capabilities.
• Standards: You will partner with Product Risk Engineering to deploy Nike's product performance standards and lead the standardization of manufacturing processes, ensuring consistency and efficiency across partner networks.
• Manufacturing Readiness: You will leverage manufacturing integration, engineering tools, and best practices to mitigate risk during production.
• Manufacturing Execution: You will apply best-in-class production quality engineering practices to ensure products are made right the first time.
• Inspections & Audits: You will support quality measurement and verification of post-production materials and products to enable informed decisions.
• You will strengthen manufacturing integration by building effective connections between development and bulk production, reducing production risks and supporting seamless execution.
• You will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure materials meet creative, functional, and commercial requirements.
• You will monitor seasonal fabric development KPIs, fabric testing, and risk assessments, ensuring alignment with Nike standards and regulatory requirements.
• You will partner with product development teams to select appropriate materials and provide technical guidance throughout development and production stages.
• You will support sustainable material initiatives (e.g., GRS, BCI, ZDHC).
• Issue Management: You will partner with the Issue Management team to review, analyze, and resolve product issues, leading root cause investigations and CAPA follow-up to enable continuous improvement.
• Marketplace Feedback: You will incorporate consumer feedback from in-market product performance into future product and manufacturing improvements.