Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Upper Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

The Upper Manufacturing Engineer leads and mentors a small engineering team while driving process development and continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role focuses on optimizing manufacturing output, scaling and setting up production lines, and resolving escalated production issues on the manufacturing floor. The engineer collaborates closely with production, engineering, quality, and operations teams to ensure products and facility output meet performance, quality, and delivery goals.

Responsibilities

+ Lead, mentor, and direct an engineering team that includes a mechanical designer, a manufacturing engineer, and multiple engineering technicians.

+ Act as the primary escalation point for production issues, driving rapid containment, root cause analysis, and resolution.

+ Work predominantly on the manufacturing floor to understand process gaps, equipment challenges, and material flow issues, and implement effective solutions.

+ Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues directly on the floor to minimize downtime and maintain stable output.

+ Design, implement, and refine manufacturing processes for inverter assembly to improve quality, throughput, and reliability.

+ Lead process development efforts to optimize manufacturing output and support both project-based and escalated work items.

+ Develop, document, and maintain standard work instructions to ensure process repeatability, safety, and product quality.

+ Lead the setup, validation, and optimization of production lines and work cells, including scaling existing lines and establishing new lines.

+ Identify bottlenecks in production and drive improvements using lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methods.

+ Improve cycle time, labor efficiency, and first-pass yield through data-driven analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.

+ Collaborate with design engineering to improve product manufacturability and ensure smooth transition from design to production.

+ Work directly with the team to translate engineering bills of materials (EBOMs) into manufacturing bills of materials (MBOMs) in a PLM-integrated environment.

+ Support production ramp-ups by removing constraints, stabilizing processes, and ensuring robust line performance.

+ Coach and demonstrate lean manufacturing techniques to production and engineering staff.

+ Collaborate regularly with leadership and department heads to communicate progress on high-priority projects and operational goals.

+ Contribute to building a scalable manufacturing engineering function, including mentoring junior engineers and supporting project management activities.

+ Utilize Manufacturing Execution System (MES) integration and ERP tools to improve material consumption accuracy, routing, and work order management.

+ Design fixtures and layouts using 3D CAD tools to support efficient, safe, and high-quality manufacturing operations.

+ Apply kanban and other visual management systems to support material flow, inventory control, and production scheduling.

Essential Skills

+ Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Electrical Engineering, with consideration for Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in a relevant technical field.

+ 5+ years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing engineering role.

+ Strong manufacturing engineering experience with demonstrated experience in process development and optimization.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Simpsonville, SC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $53.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:  - Medical, dental & vision
- Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital  - 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
- Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)  -…