Mechanical Engineer 1st Shift

Airlite Plastics is a premier, privately held, family-owned manufacturer headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Our family style and personal culture is what makes Airlite an amazing place to grow and build a successful career. Airlite’s company values of unquestionable integrity and respect and appreciation for each other are at the core of our success. These values set a strong foundation to build on where we can ‘wow’ our customers with innovative products and sustainable solutions, and continuously improve our processes and efficiencies.

Our product lines include rigid plastic containers and lids for food packaging and cosmetics, dry powder scoops, plastic drink cups, shipping containers, industrial strength insulated concrete forms (ICF) and sustainable permeable paving systems. As pioneers in our industry, focused on sustainable solutions, we strive to provide our customers with top-notch service and quality, which aligns with our award-winning products.

About the role

This role is a contributing member of our Airlite - Omaha team, located in Omaha, NE. As a Mechanical Engineer you are a key to continued growth and success of Airlite. The Mechanical Engineer role takes a hands-on approach in leading and managing engineering projects from planning through completion. Performs functions to design or develop new or existing company equipment or processes for internal and external customers. Interprets requirements, requests or instructions in order to design new components or redesign existing ones to improve the company’s equipment, processes, quality and products. Establishes specifications through engineering calculations and layouts and oversees the assembly and testing of Engineering prototypes. This position involves spending approximately 50% of the time on the production floor to support system stability, reliability, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize and coordinate all phases of assigned project work in a timely manner; report and document project progress and findings to appropriate internal or external personnel.
• Serve as the SME for robotics, vision systems, and IMM technologies, spending approximately 50% of the time providing hands-on support and troubleshooting on the production floor to internal teams and enterprise wide.
• Research, plan, and design mechanical and electromechanical products and systems and oversees activities involved in their fabrication, operation, applications, assist with installation and repair.
• Collaborate with teams, management, and customers to resolve issues and enhance performance, stability, and functionality of automated equipment.
• Recommend and implement design changes to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Draw complete AutoCad Drawings with proficiencies in electrical, mechanical, and robotic disciplines.
• Analyze feasibility of designs considering safety, functionality, reliability, costs, time limitations, planning, and other technical factors.
• Provide technical support for new product development and testing.
• Coordinate communication with outside vendors to obtain quotes for new systems and system upgrades.
• Coordinate with OEM’s on the installation and training and proper set-up and operation of new prototypes or updated designs.
• Control expenditures within limitations of project budget.
• Ensure any food safety concerns are communicated to management in a timely and effective manner.
• Able to travel occasionally, up to 30% of the time, including international travel for factory acceptance testing (FAT), enterprise system installs and CI projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Strong sense of urgency, self-motivated and positive.
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations.
• Detail oriented, with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Capability to solve complex problems, utilizing critical thinking and decision-making techniques including PDCA, DMAIC, A3.
• Knowledge of manufacturing procedures and processes preferably in plastics industry and Quality Assurance SQF Level-3.
• Outstanding presentation and facilitation skills with the ability to effectively communicate and respond to questions from managers, supervisor, employees, customers, and OEM representatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a consultative, collaborative approach; tactful with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to actively lead change initiatives.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory and factor analysis.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to assemble resources needed to orchestrate multiple projects/activities and accomplish goals.
• Display highest ethical standards.
• Maintain the utmost level of confidentiality in dealing with sensitive information.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, and technical procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) in Engineering, preferably in mechanical or electrical engineering; and a minimum of two years of successful Engineering experience is preferred.
• Proficient knowledge of a variety of Engineering and business software, including AutoCad and SolidWorks.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hand dexterity to operate office equipment including computer keyboards; hand tools; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the office work environment is typically quiet; when visiting the production floor the noise level may be loud. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Company paid life insurance
• Company paid short term disability
• Generous 401k match
• Generous Time Off
• Annual company activities