Manufacturing Engineer

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Drive manufacturing process improvements for Budd Lake production operations focused on reducing manufacturing variance, absorption variance, and product cost.
• Analyze production data, routings, labor standards, yields, scrap, rework, and capacity utilization to identify and execute margin improvement opportunities.
• Lead cycle time reduction, throughput improvement, and labor content optimization projects for key product families including Sapphire and YVO
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• Develop, maintain, and improve process documentation including work instructions, routers, travelers, BOMs, process flows, capacity models, and PFMEAs.
• Evaluate and improve material utilization, WIP flow, inventory turns, and production planning alignment to reduce future excess and obsolete inventory exposure.
• Design, qualify, and implement tooling, fixtures, automation, robotics, and error‑proofing solutions to improve safety, consistency, yield, and scalability.
• Apply AI‑enabled tools, analytics, dashboards, and predictive methods to improve process visibility, anomaly detection, standard work adherence, and decision speed.
• Use Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, root cause analysis, and process capability methods to stabilize processes and deliver measurable results.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, and Engineering to improve routing accuracy, labor absorption, cost models, and production execution.
• Support investigation and resolution of yield losses, scrap, rework, MRB issues, and process escapes with timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead validation, qualification, and implementation of new or revised manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and control plans.
• Identify, justify, and manage capital and continuous improvement projects that improve throughput, capacity, quality, and gross margin performance.
• Train production personnel on updated processes, automated systems, robotics work cells, AI‑enabled tools, and standard work requirements.

• BS in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or other relevant technical degree.
• 5+ years' experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, industrial engineering, or production operations within a precision manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience reducing manufacturing cost through cycle time reduction, yield improvement, labor efficiency, material utilization, scrap reduction, and routing accuracy.
• Practical knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, FMEA/PFMEA, process capability, root cause analysis, and corrective action methods.
• Experience developing and maintaining manufacturing documentation including routers, travelers, work instructions, BOMs, process flows, standard labor assumptions, and control plans.
• Working knowledge of automation, robotics, machine integration, data acquisition, and manufacturing systems used to improve process repeatability and throughput.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and data analysis/reporting platforms; ability to interpret ERP/MRP, production, quality, and cost data to drive action.

• Experience supporting optical, crystal, ceramic, sapphire, YVO4, or other precision component manufacturing processes.
• Hands‑on experience implementing automation, robotics, vision systems, AI‑enabled analytics, or machine learning tools in a manufacturing environment.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, SME, ASQ, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• Experience building cost models, capacity models, labor standards, OEE/throughput dashboards, or variance reduction scorecards.
• Strong cross‑functional leadership skills with ability to influence Operations, Quality, Planning, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance without direct authority.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, organization, and follow‑through skills with a bias toward measurable business results.

• Ability to regularly walk throughout manufacturing, assembly, test, coating, polishing, and warehouse areas.
• Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 4–8 hours per day) while…