Project Engineer

Sanmina Corporation (Nasdaq: SANM) is a leading integrated manufacturing solutions provider serving the fastest-growing segments of the global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) market. Recognized as a technology leader, Sanmina provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions, delivering superior quality and support to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) primarily in communications networks, defense and aerospace, industrial and semiconductor systems, medical, multimedia, computing and storage, automotive, and clean technology sectors.

About the role

Our Houston facility is looking for a practical, highly organized Industrial Engineer / Project Coordinator to join our team during a major plant expansion. In this role, you will work directly with our Facilities Manager to coordinate equipment installations, track project timelines, and manage vendor schedules. You will also act as a flexible engineering resource to help our Process and Manufacturing Engineers when workloads are high. This role focuses on data analysis—tracking manufacturing costs, calculating floor efficiency, and identifying operational waste.

Responsibilities

• Track Equipment Installations: Work directly with equipment suppliers and contractors on the plant floor. Monitor delivery schedules, ensure utilities (power, air, etc.) are ready for setup, and track installation progress.
• Manage Factory Software & Data: Use Oracle ERP and our Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to enter production routes, audit labor hours, and keep manufacturing data accurate.
• Conduct Time Studies & Costing: Spend time on the production floor timing assembly steps to compute cycle times. Use this data to help accounting establish accurate standard labor and machine costs.
• Track Waste & Rework Costs: Collect and analyze data on scrap rates, material waste, and rework labor hours. Investigate root causes of variances to help reduce lost profitability.
• Analyze Equipment Downtime & Capacity: Monitor machine utilization metrics through the MES. Categorize reasons for machine stoppages (maintenance delays, slow setups, or waiting on parts) to improve overall capacity.
• Map Workflows & Material Flow: Create process flowcharts and value stream maps (VSM) using Microsoft Visio. Analyze material handling paths and operator travel times to minimize transit costs and prevent product damage.
• Create Status Reports & Decks: Gather project updates, capacity metrics, and financial variance data to build clear PowerPoint presentations for management and customers.
• Support Engineering Changes: Help manage Engineering Change Notices (ECN), update risk assessments (PFMEA), and write standard operating procedures (SOPs) for operators.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a similar technical field.
• 0–3 years of experience in a manufacturing or heavy assembly plant (internships or co-op experience count).
• Basic understanding of manufacturing cost structures, labor routing steps, material waste tracking, and cost variances (standard vs. actual).
• Ability to work well with diverse teams, from shop-floor operators to external contractors and senior managers.
• Able to explain technical updates, project delays, and financial data clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Comfortable adapting to changing priorities to support plant needs.