Sr. Production Engineer

About the role

The Senior Production Engineer serves as a key leader within the design and production engineering team, providing technical direction, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring that product designs translate seamlessly into efficient, high-quality manufacturing processes. This role drives continuous improvement, leads complex cross-functional projects, and champions Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles from concept through production launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, complex engineering and production projects that may require coordination of additional engineers, cross-functional resources, and subprojects.
• Own projects from the time they are sold through successful transition into manufacturing, ensuring engineering intent aligns with production capabilities and timelines.
• Provide leadership, training, and technical support to the design team, acting as a mentor to junior engineers and promoting best practices.
• Lead the design team in incorporating DFM principles into product designs starting at the concept stage to ensure manufacturability and cost-effective production.
• Develop, document, and maintain DFM guidelines and best practices within the engineering department and ensure consistent adoption across projects.
• Analyze product designs for manufacturability, identify potential production issues, and propose design improvements that optimize production flow and quality.
• Collaborate closely with the production team to troubleshoot manufacturing issues, conduct root cause analyses, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Monitor production performance related to engineering outputs and identify areas where design or process changes can improve efficiency, quality, or cost.
• Develop and track metrics that measure the success of engineering-to-manufacturing handoffs, such as sheet metal design remakes, bill of materials (BoM) completeness, and rework rates.
• Research and evaluate improved technologies and methods for existing products, and prepare proposals for design or process changes for approval.
• Create and manage project budgets, regularly report on progress, and ensure projects remain on schedule and within scope.
• Propose and drive cost-saving initiatives and process optimization changes that increase the productivity and effectiveness of both engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Lead production engineering meetings by facilitating focused discussions, driving timely decision-making, fostering collaboration across teams, and ensuring follow-through on action items.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• At least 5 years of engineering experience, preferably in production or manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in engineering and manufacturing engineering, with a clear understanding of production processes and constraints.
• Proficiency in process improvement and process engineering methodologies.
• Experience with continuous improvement practices and lean manufacturing principles.
• 3D CAD proficiency with SolidWorks, including modeling and design for manufacturability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and equivalent Google productivity applications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and coordinate cross-functional work, with some project management experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems, perform root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Strong communication and leadership skills to guide design teams and collaborate with production teams.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing DFM guidelines and best practices within an engineering organization.
• Background in mechanical engineering or related engineering disciplines.
• Experience establishing and tracking metrics related to engineering-to-manufacturing handoffs and production performance.
• Proven ability to research and recommend new technologies or methods to improve existing products and processes.
• Experience leading technical meetings and facilitating cross-functional decision-making.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Work Environment

The Senior Production Engineer works in a collaborative engineering and manufacturing environment, partnering closely with design, production, and cross-functional teams to bring products from concept into efficient, repeatable production. The role involves frequent interaction with both office-based engineering tools and production floor activities, including the use of 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks and productivity suites like Microsoft Office and Google tools. Work typically follows standard business hours, with flexibility as needed to support project deadlines, production launches, and critical troubleshooting efforts. The environment emphasizes continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and data-driven decision-making, with a strong focus on teamwork, open communication, and shared ownership of project success.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $100,000.00 - $125,000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance program

Schedule & Location

This is a permanent, fully onsite position based in Maple Grove, MN. Work typically follows standard business hours with flexibility as needed to support project deadlines, production launches, and critical troubleshooting. The position is anticipated to close on November 2, 2026.