Manufacturing Engineer

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for developing and optimizing plastic pallet production processes, ensuring quality, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The role supports new product launches, equipment validations, and continuous improvement initiatives across a plastic pallet manufacturing environment.

• Integrate safety considerations into all engineering designs, equipment installations, and process improvements.
• Conduct safety risk assessments (e.g., Job Safety Analysis, HAZOP) for new and existing processes.
• Partner with EHS team to ensure compliance with OSHA and internal safety standards.
• Assist in incident investigations and near misses to implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
• Promote a culture of safety awareness and accountability across all levels of manufacturing.

• Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for injection molding, extrusion, and vibratory welding.
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce cycle times, improve quality, and increase throughput.
• Support tooling design, procurement, and validation for new and existing products.
• Lead equipment and process validations including IQ, OQ, and PQ Protocols, DOE, Gage R&R.
• Support APQP activities such as DFMEA/PFMEA, Process Flow, Control Plans, and PPAP submissions for new products or tooling.
• Provides manufacturing decision‑making information by calculating production, labor, and material costs; reviewing production schedules; estimating future requirements.
• Assists production department with troubleshooting process, equipment, or tooling related issues.
• Lead Kaizen events and other lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Analyze production data to identify trends and areas of waste.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.

• Support new product introductions by working cross‑functionally with design, quality, and production teams.
• Manage capital equipment projects including justification, procurement, installation, qualifications and validations.

• Work with Quality Assurance to ensure process capability and adherence to customer specifications.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for process‑related issues.

• Support safe design, specification, and maintenance of tooling and machinery.
• Specify and source production tooling and equipment.
• Provide engineering support for machine setup, troubleshooting, and operator training.
• Collaborate with maintenance to implement PM programs that reduce equipment‑related risk, minimize unplanned downtime, ensure operator safety, and extend equipment life.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with injection molding, extrusion, and/or vibratory welding processes.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma, and process optimization tools.
• Proficient in CAD software (Solid Works, AutoCAD, etc.).
• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), PFMEA, and control plans.
• Working knowledge of PLCs and automation systems.
• Certification in Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and project management skills.
• Must be willing to travel as needed, including internationally, to support projects, suppliers, or other manufacturing sites.

• Plastics processing knowledge:
  Deep understanding of plastic molding methods (e.g., injection molding, compression molding, structural foam molding, extrusion).
• Tooling and mold design:
  Familiarity with mold design principles, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• CAD/CAM proficiency:
  Ability to design fixtures, tools, and layouts using software like Solid Works, AutoCAD, or Creo.
• Automation and robotics:
  Understanding of automated systems, robotic palletizers, and how to integrate automation into plastic molding processes.

• Polymer knowledge:
  Knowledge/understanding of resins (HDPE, PP, recycled plastics), additives, and their…