Manufacturing Engineer

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer provides hands-on engineering support to machining and manufacturing operations, with primary responsibility for CAM programming, manufacturing documentation, quality inspection requirements, and shop-floor technical support.

This position works closely with machinists, quality personnel, and shop management to develop efficient manufacturing processes, troubleshoot production issues, improve machining methods, and ensure parts are produced safely and in accordance with drawing and customer requirements.

The ideal candidate combines strong CNC machining and CAM programming knowledge with the ability to translate engineering drawings into practical, repeatable manufacturing processes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

CAM Programming & CNC Manufacturing

• Develop, maintain, and optimize CAM programs for CNC machining operations, including milling, turning, and other applicable machining processes.
• Determine appropriate machining strategies, tooling, workholding, feeds, speeds, and sequences of operation.
• Create and maintain setup documentation needed for machinists to accurately and efficiently manufacture components.
• Work directly with machinists during new program prove-outs and first-piece production.
• Troubleshoot CNC programs, tooling, workholding, and machining issues.
• Optimize existing programs to improve cycle time, tool life, part quality, and process reliability.
• Assist with selection and implementation of cutting tools, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment.
• Maintain appropriate revision control of CNC programs and related manufacturing documentation.
• Create and maintain resident tooling catalogs, machining macros, probing cycles and SOPs. 

Quality & Inspection Documentation

• Develop quality inspection sheets and in-process inspection requirements based on engineering drawings, specifications, and customer requirements.
• Identify critical dimensions, tolerances, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) requirements, and other characteristics requiring inspection.
• Work with Quality and production personnel to establish practical inspection methods.
• Support first-piece, in-process, and final inspection activities as needed.
• Assist with investigation and resolution of dimensional or manufacturing nonconformances.
• Recommend manufacturing process changes to prevent recurring quality issues.
• Help ensure that current drawing revisions and applicable manufacturing requirements are available to production personnel.

  Shop-Floor Engineering Support

• Serve as a primary engineering resource for machinists and shop management.
• Interpret engineering drawings, tolerances, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
• Provide timely technical guidance when manufacturing questions or problems arise.
• Assist machinists with determining appropriate processes, tooling, setups, and machining methods.
• Evaluate manufacturability of new and existing components.
• Support disposition and corrective actions related to production problems and nonconforming material.
• Coordinate with shop management to address production constraints, technical issues, and manufacturing priorities.
• Provide engineering support for new jobs from initial planning through successful production.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, cycle time, tooling cost, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Develop and improve machining processes to increase consistency and reduce operator dependency.
• Assist with fixture and workholding design or modification.
• Support continuous improvement activities throughout manufacturing operations.
• Analyze recurring production problems and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Assist management with evaluating new machines, tooling, software, and manufacturing technologies.
• Help standardize manufacturing methods and best practices across the shop.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field.

Technical Skills

• Candidate should have working knowledge of:
• CNC milling and/or turning
• CAM programming software; MasterCAM desired
• CNC tooling and machining practices
• Feeds and speeds
• Cutting tool selection
• Workholding and fixture concepts
• Engineering drawings and specifications
• GD&T
• Precision measurement and inspection techniques
• Manufacturing process development
• CNC program troubleshooting
• Microsoft Office applications
• Experience with CAD software and CNC machine controls is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong mechanical and manufacturing aptitude.
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings.
• Ability to translate engineering requirements into practical shop-floor processes.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with machinists, supervisors, quality personnel, engineers, and management.
• Comfortable spending significant time on the manufacturing floor.
• Ability to manage multiple jobs, programs, and engineering priorities simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation.
• Ability to make sound technical decisions while considering quality, cost, delivery, and manufacturability.
• Willingness to take ownership of manufacturing problems and work collaboratively toward solutions.

Additional Information:  While it is understood that initially the work will be heavily focused in the CNC areas initially, this role is in support of the entire facility. The Manufacturing Engineer is expected to lead projects and coordinate teams to improve the safety, quality, and efficiency of the division. This can be any of, but not limited to, the following: 

• Safety Improvement initiatives
• Quality Improvement initiatives
• Equipment specification and coordination of installation
• Equipment Layout
• Lean projects around process optimization and flow
  Cost reduction initiatives: it is expected that this role will provide annual cost savings through process improvement