Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

The Manufacturing Engineer reviews customer orders for custom gears and transforms them into practical manufacturing plans. This role focuses on estimating and quoting, process engineering, and project management to ensure each part is accurately costed, efficiently planned, and successfully released to production. You will translate customer drawings into clear routers and blueprints, determine materials and tooling, coordinate with vendors and internal teams, and support continuous improvement across the production process.

Responsibilities

• Review customer drawings, specifications, and RFQs for custom gear manufacturing projects and determine how each part will be made.
• Analyze technical requirements to identify the most efficient manufacturing methods, operation sequences, tooling needs, and production approaches for each job.
• Develop detailed cost estimates that include labor, machine time, materials, tooling, outside processing, and vendor services.
• Identify manufacturing risks, special requirements, and key cost drivers during the quoting process and communicate them clearly to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with customers and internal teams to clarify technical requirements and support follow-up activities related to quotes and proposals.
• Own projects from order receipt through release to the production floor, ensuring all engineering documentation is complete and accurate.
• Create and maintain manufacturing routers, process plans, work instructions, and job documentation for new and repeat orders.
• Translate customer engineering drawings into clear manufacturing processes, production requirements, and step-by-step templates that dictate how products are built.
• Generate manufacturing sketches and shop-floor documentation using AutoCAD to support machinists and production personnel.
• Design or specify tooling, fixtures, broaches, and other manufacturing aids required to produce custom gears and precision parts.
• Determine which materials need to be ordered for each job and coordinate with purchasing to ensure timely availability.
• Coordinate materials, tooling, and outside vendor services to support production schedules and meet delivery commitments.
• Develop complete job packages including drawings, material specifications, routing information, tooling requirements, and processing instructions.
• Serve as the primary engineering resource between customers, purchasing, production, quality, and outside vendors, ensuring smooth communication and issue resolution.
• Support production by troubleshooting manufacturing challenges, resolving technical issues, and identifying practical process improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, lead time reduction, and cost savings within the manufacturing operation.
• Create and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) as processes evolve and new products are introduced.
• Accurately quote equipment and resources needed for new jobs and support planning activities related to bill of materials and ERP system usage.
• Contribute to a collaborative, tight-knit team environment and support colleagues across engineering, production, and quality.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2 years in an engineering position within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with exposure to production processes, tooling, and materials.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and determine appropriate manufacturing methods.
• Experience with manufacturing routers, process planning, estimating, quoting, or production planning.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and proven manufacturing problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for creating manufacturing sketches and shop-floor documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for documentation, analysis, and communication.
• Excellent communication skills to work effectively with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong organization and project management skills to own jobs from order receipt through release to production.
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering preferred; an Associate's Degree with relevant…