Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

This hands-on Manufacturing Engineer role focuses on the full lifecycle of remanufacturing complex mechanical and electromechanical products. You will lead programs from product teardown and failure analysis through process development, production launch, technician training, and PPAP approval. The position blends reverse engineering, manufacturing engineering, tooling design, supplier collaboration, and ongoing production support to restore products to like-new or improved condition and extend their service life.

Responsibilities

• Tear down and analyze returned products to identify failure modes and root causes.
• Conduct failure analysis and root cause investigations to support robust troubleshooting and corrective actions.
• Reverse engineer components and develop effective remanufacturing strategies that improve reliability and product life.
• Create bills of materials (BOMs) and manage parts and assemblies within ERP/MRP systems.
• Identify, evaluate, and source replacement components from OEM and aftermarket suppliers.
• Design fixtures, tooling, and workholding solutions using CAD software, with SolidWorks as the preferred platform.
• Develop repeatable cleaning, inspection, assembly, testing, and repair processes for remanufactured products.
• Create detailed manufacturing documentation including work instructions, PFMEAs, APQP documentation, torque sheets, and inspection reports.
• Collaborate directly with suppliers, customers, production teams, and quality teams to ensure successful program execution.
• Set up production cells and define efficient layouts and workflows for remanufacturing operations.
• Train technicians on manufacturing and remanufacturing processes, ensuring proper understanding of procedures and quality standards.
• Support PPAP submissions and product release activities, ensuring compliance with customer and internal requirements.
• Provide ongoing production support to resolve issues, improve processes, and maintain product quality.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization across remanufacturing programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with failure analysis, root cause investigation, and troubleshooting of mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Proven ability to create manufacturing documentation and clear, detailed work instructions.
• Experience with BOM creation and managing parts and assemblies within ERP/MRP systems.
• CAD proficiency, with SolidWorks strongly preferred for fixture, tooling, and component design.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and a hands-on engineering mindset suited to shop-floor and teardown work.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, collaborating with suppliers, technicians, quality, and customers.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing engineering principles and process development.
• Strong communication skills for documenting processes and training production technicians.

Skills

• Experience in remanufacturing or repair engineering, particularly with complex mechanical or electromechanical products.
• Background in reverse engineering and product teardown to support remanufacturing strategies.
• Familiarity with PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, and Control Plan methodologies and documentation.
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, and workholding solutions for production environments.
• Exposure to bearings, seals, gaskets, hydraulic systems, rotating equipment, or electromechanical products.
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience, including identifying and implementing process improvements.
• Experience in production launch activities, including setting up production cells and preparing documentation for new programs.
• Experience training technicians and production staff on new or updated manufacturing processes.

Work Environment

This role operates in a highly hands-on manufacturing and remanufacturing environment that combines engineering offices with production and shop-floor areas. You will frequently move between CAD and documentation workstations and the production floor where product teardown, inspection, assembly, testing, and repair take place. The work involves close collaboration with technicians, quality personnel, suppliers, and customers, using ERP/MRP systems, SolidWorks, and standard manufacturing tools and equipment. The environment emphasizes reliability, process repeatability, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on practical, shop-floor engineering and clear communication of processes and standards.

Schedule

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ann Arbor, MI, and is fully onsite.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $46.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)