Job Title: Industrial Engineer
Location: Garden Grove, CA USA
Department: Engineering
Reports To: Engineering Manager
Job Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $90,000 - $110,000 per year + 10% AIP
Summary: At Aptiv, we inspire the world's most innovative teams by doing the right thing, the right way. We are seeking an Industrial Engineer to optimize manufacturing processes, improve operational efficiency, and drive continuous improvement across cable and wire harness assembly operations.
This hands-on, cross-functional role analyzes production workflows, develops and implements process improvements, and helps deliver high-quality interconnect solutions to aerospace, defense, space, and industrial markets. You will partner with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to reduce waste and establish best-in-class manufacturing standards.
Leadership & Core Responsibilities:
Manufacturing Process Optimization
- Analyze and optimize production workflows, assembly line layouts, and manufacturing cell configurations to maximize throughput and minimize waste.
- Develop, document, and maintain standardized work instructions, process flows, cycle-time studies, labor routings, tooling specifications, and assembly guides for cable and wire harness operations.
- Conduct time and motion studies, capacity analyses, value stream mapping, and line balancing to identify bottlenecks and drive measurable efficiency improvements.
- Monitor and analyze key production metrics, including overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), scrap, rework, and labor efficiency, and develop action plans to address performance gaps.
- Identify and implement ergonomic improvements and workplace-organization initiatives that promote safety, quality, and productivity.
Continuous Improvement & Cross-Functional Support
- Lead and support Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with Operations and Quality.
- Partner with Engineering and Quality to ensure manufacturing processes are producible, cost-effective, and compliant with AS9100, IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, and customer-specific requirements.
- Support new product introductions (NPI) by developing manufacturing plans, tooling requirements, and assembly strategies from concept through full-scale production.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain and Production Planning to support capacity planning, scheduling, and material-flow optimization.
- Support Aptiv's mission, vision, values, and goals; comply with all company policies and procedures; and perform other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field required.
Experience: 3+ years of industrial engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in aerospace, defense, or interconnect/cable assembly.
Industry Knowledge: Solid understanding of cable and wire harness assembly processes, including crimping, soldering, termination, and routing. Experience reading engineering drawings, assembly instructions, and Technical Data Packages (TDPs).
Continuous Improvement: Demonstrated experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen methodologies, including time and motion studies, value stream mapping, capacity analysis, and line balancing.
Documentation: Experience developing and maintaining work instructions, process flows, routings, tooling specifications, and assembly guides.
Preferred: Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, AS9100, or similar quality and workmanship standards. Bilingual English/Spanish is a strong plus.
Certifications & Competencies:
Systems Proficiency: Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with ERP systems such as Syspro is preferred. Systems may include ADP, Syspro, QMS, CAD software (SolidWorks and AutoCAD), SmartView, Salesforce, Planful, and Awardco.
Core Competencies: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable improvements. Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
Compensation, Benefits & Legal:
Total Rewards & Compensation: The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $110,000 per year plus a 10% Annual Incentive Plan (AIP). Exact compensation will depend on experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. For benefits and career opportunities, visit https://www.aptiv.com/careers.
EEO Statement
Aptiv is an Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities). We adhere to all federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination and strictly prohibit workplace harassment of any kind.
Skills Required
- 3+ years of industrial engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field
- Solid understanding of cable and wire harness assembly processes (crimping, soldering, termination, routing)
- Proficiency in reading and interpreting engineering drawings, assembly instructions, and Technical Data Packages (TDPs)
- Demonstrated experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen (time and motion studies, value stream mapping, line balancing)
- Experience developing and maintaining work instructions, process flows, routings, tooling specifications, and assembly guides
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
- Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, AS9100, or similar quality and workmanship standards
- Experience with ERP systems (Syspro or similar)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish)
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills
What We Do
Winchester Interconnect designs and manufactures precision-engineered interconnect systems, including connectors, cable assemblies, RF/microwave solutions, and fiber optics. They provide tailored solutions for high-performance applications across the aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial sectors, focusing on solving complex connectivity challenges with high reliability and agility.
