​ Manufacturing & Project Engineer

RAM Windows & Doors is an exciting and rapidly growing manufacturer of residential and commercial windows and doors. RAM has been manufacturing high-end custom windows since 1978 and expanded its product offering in 2021 to include high-end custom exterior doors. The company continues to expand its product lines and market presence, creating opportunities for hardworking, motivated, and results-driven professionals.

About the role

RAM Windows & Doors is seeking a Manufacturing & Project Engineer to work directly with the Vice President of Production and collaborate closely with our Production, Materials, Planning, Quality, and Maintenance teams. This position will lead project-based initiatives focused on reducing labor cost per unit, increasing throughput and capacity, shortening lead times, improving material and process flow, and implementing sustainable manufacturing improvements.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Vice President of Production to identify, prioritize, and execute manufacturing improvement projects.
• Support process improvement across manufacturing operations, including machining, fabrication, saw, CNC, assembly, material handling, inspection, and packaging.
• Analyze production processes to identify bottlenecks, excess labor, waiting, downtime, rework, excessive work in process, and other forms of waste.
• Conduct time studies, process observations, capacity analyses, and workflow reviews.
• Develop and maintain capacity models based on labor, equipment, cycle times, product mix, uptime, and scheduled production hours.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, cost estimates, expected benefits, implementation plans, and performance measures.
• Prepare equipment and capital-project proposals, including throughput impact, capacity increases, labor savings, payback periods, and return-on-investment calculations.
• Research equipment, tooling, fixtures, automation, workstations, and material-handling solutions and present recommendations to management.
• Coordinate approved projects with Production, Materials, Planning, Quality, Maintenance, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, process trials, employee training, and performance validation.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methods, including one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, visual management, waste reduction, value-stream mapping, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Develop or improve manufacturing layouts, work cells, material presentation, staging, kitting, and replenishment methods.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, assembly drawings, dimensions, tolerances, specifications, and bills of materials.
• Create or revise basic manufacturing drawings, layouts, and fixture concepts using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar CAD software.
• Design, assemble, test, and improve jigs, fixtures, gauges, templates, carts, workstations, and other production aids.
• Work with internal employees, machine shops, fabricators, and vendors to manufacture parts, tooling, and fixtures.
• Develop standard work, process maps, work instructions, visual controls, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Establish baseline measurements before implementation and verify that completed projects achieve expected results.
• Monitor completed improvements to ensure changes are sustained and do not negatively affect safety, quality, or downstream operations.
• Track and report performance related to labor cost per unit, capacity, throughput, lead time, and overall process improvement.
• Provide regular project updates to the Vice President of Production, including progress, risks, costs, results, and decisions required.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting established deadlines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• 2 to 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, project engineering, process engineering, continuous improvement, or a similar manufacturing role.
• Practical experience applying Lean manufacturing methods in a production environment.
• Demonstrated experience with one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, capacity analysis, and process improvement.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.
• Practical understanding of one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, waste reduction, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing capacity, throughput, cycle time, labor utilization, and process flow.
• Ability to conduct time studies, analyze production data, and identify operational constraints.
• Ability to calculate capacity increases, labor savings, payback periods, and return on investment.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tolerances, specifications, and bills of materials.
• Practical knowledge of common machining, fabrication, part-manufacturing, and assembly methods.
• Ability to design, assemble, test, and improve manufacturing jigs, fixtures, tooling, and production aids.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or comparable CAD software.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem-solving ability.
• Strong Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, charts, and data analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong project-management, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow projects through completion.
• Ability to work effectively on the manufacturing floor with employees, supervisors, managers, vendors, and technical personnel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience preparing throughput analyses, capacity calculations, project proposals, cost justifications, or ROI analyses.
• Experience designing, assembling, or implementing manufacturing jigs, fixtures, tooling, or production aids.
• Experience using AutoCAD and SolidWorks to create or revise manufacturing drawings, layouts, and fixture designs.
• Experience with value-stream mapping, DMAIC, Kaizen, line balancing, takt-time analysis, cellular manufacturing, or Theory of Constraints.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience supporting CNC equipment, saw operations, machining, fabrication, assembly, or automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with equipment installation, commissioning, process validation, or manufacturing-line launches.
• Experience in engineered-to-order, make-to-order, high-mix, or custom manufacturing.
• Experience in windows and doors, building products, aluminum fabrication, glass, machining, or assembly.
• Experience using ERP, MRP, production-planning, or manufacturing-management systems.
• Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.

What We're Looking For

• Self-starter who takes ownership of assignments and proactively identifies next steps.
• Strong analytical, mechanical, and practical problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to balance engineering analysis with timely shop-floor implementation.
• Comfortable spending significant time on the production floor observing processes, collecting data, and testing solutions.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical employees.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and influence results without direct authority.
• Resourceful, creative, detail-oriented, and professional.
• Ability to quickly learn new products, equipment, processes, and systems.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Approximately 40% to 50% of the workday may involve sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular walking and standing in active manufacturing and warehouse areas.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and climbing stairs.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to safely work around manufacturing equipment, forklifts, fabrication processes, and material-handling systems.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment in designated areas.
• Ability to travel to company facilities, vendor locations, equipment demonstrations, or job sites when required.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record when travel is required.

Schedule

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Occasional early mornings, evenings, weekends, or schedule flexibility may be required to support production trials, equipment installations, shutdown work, and project deadlines.

Benefits

• 10 paid time-off days
• 2 floating paid time-off days
• 8 paid company holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• Company-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Company-paid short-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings program with up to a 4% company match
• Casual dress code
• Weekly pay

Benefits are subject to applicable eligibility requirements, plan terms, company policies, and future modification.