Manufacturing Engineer I

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities, creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position.

Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. 

Manufacturing Engineer I II

Woodward’s Industrial Product Segment in our Fort Collins, Colorado office is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer who supports production operations by troubleshooting process issues, assisting operators, and helping maintain efficient workflows. This role documents downtime trends, evaluates defective hardware for basic disposition decisions, and supports the development and maintenance of manufacturing processes and production documentation. The Manufacturing Engineer also contributes to process improvement efforts, data collection, project tracking, and cross-functional collaboration to support safe, efficient, and repeatable manufacturing operations.

Level 1: Estimated annual base pay: $65,000-$89,000

Level 2: Estimated annual base pay: $77,000-$105,000

**Relocation Assistance Available For Relocation To The Fort Collins, Colorado area**

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity. 
  • 401(k) match (4.5%)
  • Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
  • Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members  
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave. 
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption Assistance  
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits. 
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life 
• Member referral bonus 
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending 
• Voluntary benefits, including:  
• Home / Auto Insurance discounts 
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave 

Level 1:

Key Responsibilities:

• Production Support: Provide technical support to troubleshoot basic process issues and assist operators in maintaining workflows. Document downtime trends and evaluate defective hardware for basic disposition actions such as rework or scrap.
• Manufacturing Process Ownership: Assist in creating and documenting basic manufacturing processes, ensuring workflows are captured accurately and reflect production requirements.
• Process Capability and Improvement: Collect data to support evaluations of process capability and identify minor issues in production processes.
• Production Documentation Management: Assist in maintaining and updating production documentation, including SOPs, process flow diagrams, and basic work instructions. Ensure documentation is organized and accessible.
• Project Support and Leadership: Tracking project milestones, maintaining documentation, and supporting basic project tasks.

Key Skills:

• Productivity Improvements: Assists in identifying inefficiencies in manufacturing operations by collecting data (e.g., cycle times, scrap rates, setup times) and supporting small-scale process improvement initiatives under supervision.
• Data Analysis: Collect and organize data related to production processes, such as cycle times, throughput, and downtime, using spreadsheets or basic tools.
• Conducting Cost Analysis and Optimization: Collect production data on labor, material usage, and machine downtime to support cost analysis and basic cost-benefit calculations for manufacturing decisions.
• Lean Manufacturing: Learn basic Lean principles, such as 5S and waste identification, and apply them to small tasks.
• Design for Manufacturability & Assembly: Learn basic DFMA principles and assist in design reviews to identify manufacturability issues. Collaborate with design teams to collect data and document feedback on product designs.
• Equipment: Learns the basics of equipment selection, troubleshooting, and maintenance processes. Assists in evaluating equipment specifications, performing basic troubleshooting tasks, and documenting equipment performance under supervision.
• Mentorship: Learn from senior engineers by actively seeking guidance and feedback to improve technical and interpersonal skills. Focus on understanding processes and building foundational expertise.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking : Identify basic issues in manufacturing workflows and propose simple solutions.
• Knowledge of APQP Tools and Systems: Learns the basics of APQP tools and systems, focusing on process control and product quality. Assists in monitoring process capability and supporting tooling/fixturing evaluations and documentation updates.
• Communication and Collaboration Skills: Communicate findings effectively and work collaboratively with other roles.

Other  Qualifications:

• 4 Year Bachelors BS OR 6+ years equivalent experienceSuccessful Candidates Will Also Have:
• Basic knowledge of CNC machining processes, tooling, and workholding
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software, including ESPRIT
• Basic understanding of Vericut or similar simulation software
• Awareness of crash avoidance best practices in CNC programming and setup
• Understanding of G-code, machine offsets, and basic program verification
• Knowledge of common machining materials and their cutting characteristics
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and GD&T
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software, including ESPRIT
• Basic understanding of Vericut or similar simulation software
• Awareness of crash avoidance best practices in CNC programming and setup
• Understanding of G-code, machine offsets, and basic program verification
• Knowledge of common machining materials and their cutting characteristics
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and GD&T

Level 2:

Key Responsibilities:

• Production Support: Monitor production processes and identify inefficiencies through technical analysis. Implement small-scale process improvements, train operators on SOPs, and manage hardware disposition by evaluating defective or non-conforming hardware for repair, rework, or replacement.
• Manufacturing Process Ownership: Develop and maintain manufacturing processes for assigned areas, ensuring accuracy and consistency in workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine process steps and improve production efficiency.
• Process Capability and Improvement: Analyze process capability using statistical tools like SPC, identifying opportunities for improvement and driving small-scale enhancements.
• Production Documentation Management: Create and refine production documentation to ensure alignment with manufacturing standards and compliance requirements. Begin transitioning documentation to digital platforms for improved accuracy, accessibility, and collaboration.
• Project Support and Leadership: Manage small-scale manufacturing projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met under supervision.

Key Skills:

• Productivity Improvements: Analyzes production process data to identify bottlenecks, waste, and inefficiencies. Implements small process changes and recommends improvements for throughput, reduce rework, and enhance productivity.
• Data Analysis: Analyze production data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks using tools like Pareto charts and process control charts.
• Conducting Cost Analysis and Optimization: Analyze manufacturing costs by evaluating material waste, labor efficiency, and equipment utilization. Perform detailed cost-benefit analyses to identify opportunities for cost savings and waste reduction.
• Lean Manufacturing: Implement Lean tools, such as Kaizen and Value Stream Mapping, for localized process improvements.
• Design for Manufacturability & Assembly: Apply DFMA principles to improve product manufacturability and assembly. Analyze designs for material selection, part count reduction, and ease of assembly, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to refine designs.
• Equipment: Assists in selecting equipment for specific operations, preparing purchase requests, and evaluating vendor proposals for return on investment and in alignment with capital equipment plans. Troubleshoots moderately complex equipment issues and supports maintenance teams to improve reliability
• Mentorship: Share foundational knowledge with peers and newer hires. Collaborate with others to support mutual learning and contribute to a positive team environment.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking : Analyze production problems using structured methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams) to identify root causes.
• Knowledge of APQP Tools and Systems: Applies APQP tools to improve process stability and reliability. Supports tooling/fixturing refinements and analyzes process capability metrics (e.g., Cpk) to reduce variability and enhance performance.
• Communication and Collaboration Skills: Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align goals and share updates on manufacturing improvements.

Other Qualifications:

• 4 Year Bachelors BS OR 8+ years equivalent experience

Successful Candidates Will Also Have:

• Basic knowledge of CNC machining processes, tooling, and workholding
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software, including ESPRIT
• Basic understanding of Vericut or similar simulation software
• Awareness of crash avoidance best practices in CNC programming and setup
• Understanding of G-code, machine offsets, and basic program verification
• Knowledge of common machining materials and their cutting characteristics
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and GD&T
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM software, including ESPRIT
• Basic understanding of Vericut or similar simulation software
• Awareness of crash avoidance best practices in CNC programming and setup
• Understanding of G-code, machine offsets, and basic program verification
• Knowledge of common machining materials and their cutting characteristics

Application window is anticipated to close 7 days from original posting date.

This information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the company’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).   All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).

Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.