Manufacturing Process Engineer

Position Summary:

The Manufacturing Process Engineer leads the development, optimization, and sustainment of manufacturing processes that improve capability, safety, quality, and productivity. This role supports process troubleshooting, documentation, technical problem solving, and tooling/fixture development. The engineer partners with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement to reduce variation, resolve recurring issues, and ensure robust process standards are in place to support efficient and reliable production.

Essential Functions

Process Development & Optimization

• Develop, refine, and validate manufacturing processes to improve capability, reduce defects, and enhance throughput.

• Conduct time studies, workflow assessments, and capacity analyses to recommend improvements to flow, layout, and sequencing.

• Support new product or process introductions and contribute to launch readiness.

Documentation & Process Control

• Create and maintain routings, work instructions, and technical documents under appropriate revision control.

• Implement process controls, visual standards, and monitoring methods for critical characteristics.

• Ensure documentation changes are communicated and integrated into training and standard work.

Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

• Lead root cause investigations for recurring performance issues and quality defects.

• Develop corrective actions and partner with operations to validate and sustain improvements.

• Collaborate with Maintenance and Quality on downtime, scrap, process deviation, and reliability improvements.

Tooling, Fixturing & Technical Support

• Design or specify tooling, fixtures, and gauges that improve manufacturability and reduce variation.

• Partner with CNC/programming resources to support machining improvements as needed.

• Ensure tooling readiness and capability for production operations.

Quality & Safety Collaboration

• Partner with Quality to support inspection plans, PFMEAs, control plans, and measurement approaches.

• Promote safe work practices and ergonomic improvements in process design and implementation.

• Support compliance with applicable process, safety, and quality standards.

Training & Operations Support

• Train operators and leads on new or updated processes and safe work practices.

• Provide technical support to production teams during troubleshooting, changeovers, or new process deployment.

• Support continuous improvement activities and cross-functional initiatives.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to translate technical information into clear documentation and operator instructions.

• Skilled in process troubleshooting and structured problem solving.

• Ability to collaborate across engineering, quality, and operations teams.

• Proficiency in process analysis tools, time studies, and data-driven decision making.

Education, Experience, or Formal Training

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience considered.

• Minimum 3+ years of manufacturing or process engineering experience in a production environment.

• Experience with root cause analysis, process capability, Lean/CI tools, and SPC preferred.

Working Environment

• Hybrid office and shop-floor role with exposure to manufacturing environments.

• PPE required in designated areas.

• Occasional extended hours for process trials, troubleshooting, or project deadlines.

Physical Demands

• Frequent walking and standing during shop-floor observations.

• Occasional bending or kneeling to inspect tooling, equipment, or processes.

• Occasional lifting up to 30 lbs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reduction of process-related defects

• Improvement in First Pass Yield (FPY)

• Cycle time improvement on targeted operations

• Timeliness of documentation updates under change control

• Tooling/fixture readiness and uptime

• Launch deliverables completion rate

• Scrap/rework cost reduction

• Downtime reduction on targeted assets

• PFMEA/control plan completion and updates

• Training completion for process changes

SMART Goals

• Lead process improvement activities that reduce defects, scrap, or downtime on prioritized operations.

• Support FPY improvements and capability enhancement for targeted processes.

• Deliver process documentation updates and improvements aligned with change control requirements.

• Support tooling and fixturing improvements that enhance stability and throughput.

• Contribute to launch readiness and ensure engineering deliverables are completed on time.