Manufacturing Engineer II

Alternate Shift: 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Monday – Thursday

About the Role

Develop, improve, and support manufacturing tools, machinery, and processes to achieve greater quality, productivity, and cost savings. Serve as the manufacturing engineering department’s representative to other departments and be an active participant in project teams. Develop and maintain knowledge of various topics and applications to recommend and implement new programs and concepts.

Responsibilities

• Use safe practices and follow lock out/tag out procedures.
• Exhibit basic knowledge of the use of safety equipment and safe working practices.
• Provide general technical support to Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, and other departments:
  • Provide technical assistance to departments such as Assembly, Machine Shop, Dispensers, Shipping, Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing Management.
  • “Firefight” daily issues to keep production lines operational.
  • Assist other departments in their improvement efforts by providing Manufacturing Engineering insight and perspectives.
  • Support projects in branches as needed.
• Routinely serve as Manufacturing’s Technical Representative on multidisciplinary projects.
• Confer with management, Design Engineering, QA, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, production schedules, new products, ECO’s, and other considerations to facilitate production processes.
• Consult with Design Engineering to create the most effective and producible designs (design for manufacturing).
• Take focused ownership of and provide support to key manufacturing lines.
• Use data-driven frameworks (such as Six Sigma) and LEAN or flow manufacturing methods to improve production processes:
  • Use DMAIC, Ishikawa, or other root cause analysis methods to solve problems and recommend corrective and preventative actions.
  • Apply statistical process control (SPC) or other statistical methods to monitor process trends.
  • Promote and support LEAN Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement activities.
• Research and collect data to support Manufacturing Engineering projects using statistical software (e.g., JMP, QI Macros, Excel), provide visual analysis, and draw conclusions.
• Prepare charts, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate workflow, routing, floor layouts, material handling, and machine utilization (using tools such as MS Visio or Mindjet MindManager).
• Modify and maintain manufacturing documents, work instructions, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Complete time studies to quantify processing times, recommend standards, and identify areas for process improvements.
• Train production personnel on flow manufacturing concepts, new equipment and processes, and data collection and usage.
• Develop reports, tracking systems, database applications, charts, and graphs related to safety, quality, cost, scrap, labor, equipment utilizations, and maintenance.
• Perform analysis of manufacturing operations to continuously reduce cost, improve, and optimize productivity and quality.
• Support the Quality Policy and corporate quality goals by identifying and eliminating problems that interfere with achieving goals.
• Be responsible for production machinery upkeep and improvement, and assist with equipment projects:
  • Design, develop, and build jigs, testers, fixtures, and production tools.
  • Develop, assemble, procure, or modify existing and new tooling and equipment to ensure efficient production processes.
  • Identify and troubleshoot process, material, or equipment problems to minimize downtime and recommend solutions.
  • Revise improvements to manufacturing methods and procedures, including writing change orders, field complaints, and deviations.
• Evaluate and recommend capital equipment and tooling. Create purchase justification packages for equipment, including payback analysis, Purchase Order Requests (POR), Capital Expenditure Request (CER) forms, and project justifications.
• Develop and build new manufacturing equipment, including mechanical assembly, connection of pneumatic devices, installation and wiring of electrical and electronic devices, and functional testing.
• Keep management informed on new manufacturing technology, machinery, equipment, and theory. Research new technology, processes, or equipment and prepare reports and recommendations.
• Program, diagnose, and troubleshoot PLC applications. Investigate and address PLC-related issues.
• Set up, program, and train operators on CNC equipment using CAD/CAM software. Troubleshoot CAD/CAM-related programming issues.
• Read schematics, assembly drawings, and data sheets to perform testing, build, and troubleshoot equipment.
• Support and develop automation and integration projects:
  • Assist with the planning of Industry 4.0 projects. Develop and implement new equipment and processes aligned with Industry 4.0 vision.
  • Help develop machine vision and robotic applications to automate manual processes.
  • Own machine vision and robotic automation equipment, including programming, setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, and training of production operators.
  • Help advance greater deployment of automation and robotics, Industrial Internet of Things, and data-driven operational excellence.
• Manage and run projects related to manufacturing and manufacturing engineering:
  • Plan, direct, coordinate, and execute complex projects, including leading teams, submitting proposals, payback analysis, coordinating outside vendor activities, and status reporting.
  • Use project management techniques to own, plan, drive, execute, and motivate project teams to complete simple and complex projects.
  • Prepare “Special Reports” and make presentations to upper management and peer groups, including data analysis, payback and financial analysis, capital equipment proposals, and decision justifications.
  • Perform research on the state of the art and keep abreast of technical developments in the field.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related technical field, with seven to ten years of related experience.
• Familiarity with machinery and production equipment.
• Strong project management skills; able to complete tasks and projects with limited supervision and manage several projects simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills and efficient management of time and resources.
• Minimum seven years of experience in a Manufacturing/Production environment working within a technical role.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with demonstrated skills in team/project leadership, oral and written communication, and analytical problem-solving.
• Technical background should include hands-on experience.
• Understanding of GDT (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
• Skill with AutoCAD and SolidWorks. Basic CAD/CAM experience and mechanical design knowledge.
• Experience using general test and measurement equipment (e.g., torque wrenches, force gages, calipers).
• Strong mathematical skills and knowledge of statistics and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Experience with mechanical and/or electrical device assembly and production.
• Experience with electronics and electrical machinery.
• Knowledge and experience in the fabrication of sheet metal products, sheet metal fabrication, dies, and tooling.
• Woodworking knowledge and/or Machine Shop knowledge is a plus.
• Knowledge of molded plastic parts and familiarity with plastic manufacturing is a plus.
• Understanding and experience with Industrial Robotics, Vision Systems, and/or automation. Experience with PLC programming.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, logical report writing skills, and public presentation skills.

Desired Skills

• 3D Additive Manufacturing experience.
• Advanced PLC programming.
• Computer programming languages (e.g., Python, VBA, C++, C#, SQL).
• Manufacturing supervision experience.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related technical field, with seven to ten years of related experience.
• Familiarity with machinery and production equipment.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with demonstrated skills in team/project leadership, oral and written communication, and analytical problem-solving.
• Technical background should include hands-on experience.

Language/Communication Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other employees verbally and through technology.
• Basic computer skills, including use of word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and email (Microsoft Office).

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to perform basic mathematical computations.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
• Ability to develop spreadsheets and analyze data.
• Ability to perform process capability studies using basic statistical tools.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Sufficient mechanical aptitude to understand manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, bills of material, and shop routings.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently works near moving mechanical parts.
• Occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to risk.
• This position is eligible for remote/hybrid work as defined in Policy Number: II-17.