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Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Verified
Musical Instrument Manufacturing

NPI Coordinator

RemoteRemoteFull TimeEntry-level (exp-based)Posted 4 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • NPI Coordinator
  • Corona, CA
  • new model prototypes
  • production departments
  • mill
  • Intersand
  • Paint
  • B&P
  • Sub-assy
  • final

Nice to have

  • Lean Manufacturing principles
  • SAP experience

Role summary

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is seeking an NPI Coordinator in Corona, CA. This role is responsible for coordinating and running new model prototypes, ensuring all documentation and processes are current for NPI production. Key responsibilities include end-to-end build coordination across various production departments, maintaining a build tracker, leading check-ins, and escalating blockers. The coordinator will act as a liaison between R&D/NPI and the factory, track deliverables, confirm BOM accuracy and material availability, and coordinate first-article parts. They will also validate processes, provide DFM recommendations, create/update work instructions, train operators, and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement. The role requires a high school diploma, at least 1 year of guitar or related industry manufacturing experience, and the ability to read drawings and spec sheets.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is a world-famous brand with offices across the globe. Fender was born in Southern California and has built a worldwide influence beyond the studio and the stage. A Fender is more than an instrument; it’s a cultural symbol that resonates globally.

We are searching for an NPI Coordinator to join our team in Corona, CA. This person will coordinate and run new model prototypes. Additionally, this person will ensure all documentation & processes are current and available for NPI production in specified departments.

Essential Functions:

  • End-to end build coordination:
  • Coordinate MPR, pilot, and pre-production builds across all production departments Including mill, Intersand, Paint, B&P, Sub-assy, final and packaging.
  • Run and validate new body, neck, electronics, through each department and confirm readiness to spec and print before handoff.
  • Maintain a single build tracker showing where every NPI unit is, what it is waiting on, and who owns the next step.
  • Lead daily check-ins with department leads and escalate blockers to the NPI Project leaders and Manager
  • Cross-functional handoff:
  • Act as the working link between R&D/NPI and Factory carrying design intent, drawings, and specs into the plant.
  • Track deliverables owned by NPI, R&D, PD, Engineering, QA, and Ops, and flag anything late or missing before phase gate reviews.
  • Materials, R&D DWG and BOM readiness:
  • Confirm BOM accuracy and material availability for each build, working with Planning to open orders for builds on the floor and coordanite with Purchasing to ensure parts are available for department leads to work on new products.
  • Confirm R&D DWG availability and share the information with department leads on the specifications
  • Process validation:
  • Coordinate first-article parts from each department and work with NPI, Engineering and R&D to be able to understand on the pass or fail criteria
  • Understand the process capability during the MPR and Pilot run, collect and summarize the data and present it to NPI, Engineering for approval and improvements
  • Provide DFM recommendations whenever appropriate
  • Documentation and training:
  • Help create and update Work instructions and in-process spec sheets in every department as necessary
  • Train operators on new models using a “show and do” approach, and maintain training records
  • Continous improvements:
  • Capture lessons learned after each launch and recommend improvements to the NPI process, templates and gate criteria
  • Splits time between the production floor (about 80%) and meetings (about 20%).
  • Run & validate new body, neck, and sub-assembly samples thru processes
  • Coordinate sample completion through the department processes utilizing relevant documentation
  • Additional duties as assigned

    • Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Minimum of 1 year guitar or related industry manufacturing experience
  • Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles desired
  • Ability to read drawings, spec sheets, work instructions, and BOMs.
  • Working knowledge of First Article Inspection and basic measuring tools.
  • Excellent communication skills (English & Spanish preferred), ability to speak in group settings
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
  • SAP experience desired
  • Excellent time management skills, ability to prioritize assignments to meet deadlines

    • About Fender Musical Instruments:

    Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel® and Groove Tubes®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com. FMIC offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, 401(k), paid time off, and an equipment purchase program to help you get the band back together. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

    Fender is required by law in certain jurisdictions to include a pay scale in the job posting for this position. “Pay scale” means the salary or hourly wage range that Fender reasonably expects to pay for this position; it is neither a promise nor a guarantee of the compensation that the successful candidate will receive. The pay scale for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that Fender considers in making compensation decisions, including, without limitation: skill set, experience, and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. If this is a remote position, the pay scale disclosed herein may be adjusted further based upon the applicable geographic differential associated with the location from which the successful candidate will work. Please note that it is not typical for a Fender employee to be at or near the top of the pay scale for their role – especially as a new hire – and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Subject to the foregoing, the current pay scale for this position is $20 to $26.50 per hour.

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