Cold Forming Manufacturing Engineer - metal forming

Cold Forming Manufacturing Engineer

Location:

Waco, TX

Salary: $150,000 - $170,000/year

Join a leading aerospace and manufacturing organization where you'll play a critical role in developing, optimizing, and launching high-volume metal manufacturing processes. This position offers the opportunity to work with advanced machining and cold forming technologies, support manufacturing operations across multiple facilities, and influence production performance on a global scale.

If you enjoy solving complex manufacturing challenges, leading process improvements, and working hands-on with production teams, this role offers significant impact and career growth.

• Develop, optimize, and validate machining and cold forming processes for high-volume production.
• Establish process capability and performance standards using DOE, SPC, and capability studies.
• Analyze material flow, tooling performance, forming loads, and machining processes to improve quality and throughput.
• Troubleshoot production issues across domestic and international manufacturing locations.
• Design, specify, and qualify tooling, dies, punches, fixtures, rolls, and machining equipment.
• Lead machine acceptance testing, tooling validation, and production ramp-ups.
• Support new product introductions, pilot builds, PPAPs, FAIs, and production launches.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives to reduce scrap, downtime, and process variation.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for manufacturing defects.
• Partner with suppliers on materials, heat treatment, coatings, and process improvements.
• Perform supplier audits and capability assessments.
• Train engineers, operators, and manufacturing teams during launches and process changes.
• Serve as a technical liaison between manufacturing plants, suppliers, and engineering teams.

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in machining and/or cold forming manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of metal forming processes, machining fundamentals, and tooling systems.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing operations.
• Proven success working across multiple manufacturing sites or supplier-facing environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 75%.
• Strong problem-solving, process improvement, and project leadership skills.

• Experience with cold heading, progressive forming, or precision machining.
• Knowledge of steels, alloys, heat treatment, and surface coatings.
• Experience working with international manufacturing operations or global suppliers.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or similar certification.