Manufacturing Systems Engineer (MES/SCADA)

About the role

Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments. We at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies run the business operations of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, our company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for automotive and general industries. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between Freudenberg and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, MI, operates more than 20 facilities and employs about 4,700 people across the Americas.

Responsibilities

• Connect manufacturing equipment to data collection and production systems, working hands-on with operators, Maintenance, Engineering, and IT to resolve plant-floor challenges.
• Troubleshoot machine connectivity and data-flow issues, tracing problems from equipment and controls through databases, MES/SCADA, and reporting.
• Implement and improve MES/SCADA solutions that give production teams accurate, useful visibility into operations and traceability.
• Use SQL to investigate manufacturing data, validate results, and improve the reliability of production reports and KPIs.
• Develop scripts and practical automations that reduce manual work and make manufacturing processes and data more dependable.
• Translate production needs into workable solutions, test them at the equipment, and help teams adopt and sustain them across shifts.
• Build on this plant-floor foundation to lead broader digital manufacturing projects, including future Smart Factory, Industry 4.0, and advanced analytics initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience solving technical problems in a manufacturing environment, with a willingness to spend substantial time on the plant floor and work directly with equipment and production teams.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting machine connectivity, controls, manufacturing systems, or the flow of data between them.
• Practical SQL skills, including writing queries and investigating data discrepancies before relying on reported results.
• Ability to write or modify scripts in at least one language, such as Python, to automate tasks or solve operational problems.
• Experience with MES, SCADA, machine data acquisition, or comparable manufacturing systems; familiarity with Ignition or industrial communication protocols is a plus.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain technical issues and solutions to operators, technicians, engineers, and leaders.
• Demonstrated learning agility and ownership: able to work through unfamiliar problems, learn new technologies, and grow from hands-on implementation into broader digital project leadership.

Benefits

• 401K Match: Save for retirement with the company's help.
• Health Insurance: Rely on comprehensive services whenever you need it.
• Vacation: We offer time off to refresh and recharge.
• Paid Holidays: With paid-time off, local holidays are all the way more relaxing.
• Personal Development: We offer a variety of trainings to ensure you can develop in your career.