MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Primary Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot new or existing product and process problems involving equipment, tooling, materials, or operator methods.
• Identify and eliminate sources of process variation through direct observation and testing on the production floor.
• Investigate operational problems such as downtime, scrap, quality defects, and bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead structured root cause analysis using methods such as 5 Whys, DMAIC, and cause-and-effect analysis.
• Improve manufacturing processes to increase throughput, quality, and stability using Lean principles and process validation techniques.
• Design, implement, and validate improvements to tooling, fixtures, and production processes.
• Provide technical support to production teams and resolve issues in real time during active operations.
• Review and improve product and process designs for manufacturability and repeatability.
• Train and support operators and supervisors on improved processes and standard work.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for process improvements, corrective actions, and engineering changes.

Essential Functions

• Spend a significant portion of time on the shop floor observing production processes, machine operation, setups, and operator activities.
• Diagnose issues by evaluating all aspects of the process including equipment condition, tooling design, and manual operator methods.
• Implement rapid containment actions followed by long-term corrective actions to ensure sustained improvement.
• Identify and verify true root cause through both data analysis and physical validation on the equipment.
• Design, ensure fabrication, deployment, and adoption of new equipment & tooling.
• Drive process improvements independently with minimal direction in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Influence production personnel and cross-functional teams without direct authority to implement changes.
• Communicate clearly, directly, and concisely, providing straightforward answers to operational questions.
• Ensure improvements are sustained through standard work, training, and follow-up verification.
• Support safety, quality, and environmental compliance while executing process improvements.

Competencies

• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving capability.
• High level of ownership and accountability for results.
• Action-oriented mindset with a bias for execution.
• Mechanical and process intuition across manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-paced, production-driven environment.
• Strong collaboration and influence skills across operations teams.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through to ensure sustained results.

Education/Training Requirements

• Degree/Diploma Obtained: Bachelor of Science Degree or Higher, Program of Study: Engineering (Prefer Mechanical, Electrical, Welding) or Material Science; Other hard science degrees will be considered.
• Licensing/Certifications Preferred: Lean Manufacturing training or certification, Six Sigma Green Belt or higher (or equivalent), CSWP – Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional, CSEP – Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional, GDTP – Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional, CMRP – Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional, CSEP – Certified Systems Engineering Professional.
• Required: 5–10 years of experience in a manufacturing environment with direct process involvement, Demonstrated hands-on troubleshooting of production equipment and processes, Proven experience improving process stability, reducing variation, and solving production problems in real time, Experience working directly on the production floor with operators and maintenance teams, Experience with fabrication processes, tooling, and production equipment.
• Preferred: Projection welding processes, Metal forming operations (wire forming strongly preferred), Tooling design and process setup optimization, Plating, coating, or finishing processes, Lean manufacturing implementation and continuous improvement initiatives.