Manufacturing Engineer

Founded in 1944, HSM is a third-generation, privately held company with 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC. We specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries, as well as designing and building automated production machinery. Our products—from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats—touch everyday life in countless ways. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success.

About the role

As a Manufacturing Engineer at HSM, you will drive operational excellence by improving production performance, leading process improvements, optimizing plant layout, and supporting quality and compliance initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Analyze manufacturing operations to improve cycle times, throughput, and equipment utilization.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement improvements across stamping, tube bending, welding, and metal fabrication processes.
• Develop and track production metrics such as cycle time, OEE, and process capability.
• Support production teams with technical solutions that improve daily operational performance.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities related to materials, labor, and equipment efficiency.
• Evaluate existing production methods and implement improvements to increase process stability and repeatability.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for manufacturing performance issues.
• Develop standardized work instructions to improve consistency across shifts.
• Drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Improve plant layouts to enhance material flow, space utilization, and operator efficiency.
• Support line balancing, workstation design, and ergonomic improvements.
• Reduce unnecessary motion, transportation, and material handling.
• Assist with facility expansion or production line reconfiguration projects.
• Help maintain compliance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and VDA quality standards.
• Support efforts to reduce scrap, defects, and rework.
• Partner with quality teams to identify process-related root causes.
• Work closely with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams.
• Provide technical guidance to support operational improvements.
• Assist with automation and manufacturing system enhancements.
• Support plant leadership in achieving productivity and cost targets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 3-7 years of manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Experience in metal manufacturing processes such as stamping, tube bending, welding, or fabrication preferred.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing environments (automotive, transportation, or heavy manufacturing).

Skills

• Understanding of cycle time, takt time, throughput, and OEE.
• Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to analyze production data and translate insights into operational improvements.
• Familiarity with manufacturing process capability and quality systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate with operators, supervisors, and engineering teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical solutions into practical improvements.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants.
• 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
• Competitive PTO: 3 weeks of vacation + 9 company-paid holidays.
• Free on-site medical clinics for you and covered dependents.
• 24/7 Teladoc access with no copay.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development assistance.
• Discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort and Verizon Wireless.