Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Job Summary:  

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for developing, improving, and sustaining manufacturing processes that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall operational throughput at Schultes Precision Manufacturing. 

This position will have a strong focus on CNC machining processes and will work closely with Operations, Programming, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to determine the most effective method to manufacture precision components. The Manufacturing Engineer will evaluate and improve manufacturing routings, tooling and workholding strategies, machining methods, CNC programs, process sequencing, and production standards to reduce cycle time, eliminate waste, improve process capability, and increase machine utilization. 

The successful candidate will combine strong technical machining knowledge with structured problem-solving and continuous improvement skills. This position is expected to spend significant time working directly with machinists, programmers, supervisors, and other technical resources on the production floor to identify constraints and implement sustainable process improvements. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

• May provide technical leadership, coaching, and project direction to machinists, technicians, programmers, and other production personnel during process-development and improvement activities. 

Duties/Responsibilities:  

Manufacturing Process Development 

• Develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing processes for precision CNC-machined components. 

• Determine the most effective manufacturing sequence, machine selection, tooling strategy, workholding method, and operation routing for new and existing products. 

• Develop and maintain manufacturing routings, work instructions, setup documentation, process parameters, and other production documentation. 

• Evaluate existing routings and operation sequences to identify unnecessary handling, setups, machining operations, outside processing, inspections, or other non-value-added activities. 

• Partner with Production and Scheduling to identify opportunities to better utilize equipment capabilities and balance work across available manufacturing resources. 

CNC Machining, Programming, and Tooling 

• Review CNC programs and machining strategies to identify opportunities to improve cycle time, tool life, process stability, and machine utilization, working wit the CNC Programmers. 

• Evaluate and recommend cutting tools, inserts, toolholders, workholding, fixtures, and other manufacturing technologies. 

• Lead or support tooling trials and document results to determine improvements in performance, quality, cycle time, and cost. 

• Support machine setup and process prove-out activities for new or significantly modified manufacturing processes. 

• Troubleshoot machining issues including excessive cycle time, tool failure, chatter, dimensional instability, poor surface finish, workholding problems, and recurring process interruptions to determine root causes and recommend sustainable corrective actions. 

Throughput and Continuous Improvement 

• Analyze production performance with operations to identify manufacturing constraints, bottlenecks, excessive setup time, downtime, scrap, rework, and other sources of lost capacity. 

• Lead projects focused on improving operational throughput, machine utilization, labor efficiency, and manufacturing capacity through Cycle time studies and production validation. 

• Reduce setup time through improved workholding, tooling preparation, standardization, offline setup, and other SMED principles. 

• Identify opportunities to reduce the number of manufacturing operations required to produce components while maintaining quality and customer requirements. 

• Apply Lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies to manufacturing challenges. 

• Develop measurable improvement plans and validate results after implementation. 

• Identify opportunities for automation, process integration, and capital investment that improve safety, quality, throughput, or cost. 

Quality and Process Capability 

• Work closely with Quality Engineering and Inspection personnel to ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet customer, drawing, and specification requirements. 

• Review engineering drawings, GD&T requirements, inspection requirements, and process capabilities when developing manufacturing methods. 

• Participate in root-cause investigations involving scrap, rework, customer returns, and recurring manufacturing defects. 

• Develop manufacturing solutions that address the source of process variation rather than relying solely on additional inspection. 

• Support development and improvement of fixtures, gauges, inspection methods, and in-process controls. 

• Participate in PFMEA, control plan, and other manufacturing risk-assessment activities as required. 

• Ensure process changes are appropriately documented, validated, and communicated prior to implementation. 

Manufacturing Support 

• Provide technical support to machinists, supervisors, programmers, Quality, and other manufacturing personnel. 

• Respond to recurring production problems and work with appropriate resources to develop permanent corrective actions. 

• Provide technical guidance during difficult setups, new-process launches, machine prove-outs, and troubleshooting activities. 

• Train and coach production personnel on new tooling, manufacturing methods, processes, and standards. 

Project and Capital Support 

• Develop business cases for manufacturing improvements and capital equipment investments. 

• Assist in defining technical requirements for new machines, tooling, fixtures, automation, and manufacturing equipment. 

• Participate in equipment selection, installation, qualification, and production launch activities. 

• Track project performance against expected improvements in cycle time, throughput, quality, labor utilization, capacity, or cost. 

• Complete assigned engineering projects within established timing and budget expectations. 

Required Skills and Abilities 

• Strong understanding of CNC machining processes, preferably including both CNC milling and turning. 

• Strong understanding of cutting-tool selection, speeds and feeds, tool life, workholding, and machining-process optimization. 

• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, specifications, and GD&T. 

• Strong understanding of manufacturing routings, process sequencing, cycle-time development, and production standards. 

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing problems using structured root-cause analysis. 

• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous-improvement principles. 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use manufacturing data to prioritize improvement opportunities. 

• Ability to manage multiple engineering projects and priorities simultaneously. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts with machinists, engineers, supervisors, managers, and external suppliers. 

• Hands-on approach with a willingness to spend significant time working directly in the manufacturing environment. 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical field preferred. 

• Equivalent combination of education and significant CNC machining/manufacturing experience may be considered. 

• Three or more years of manufacturing engineering, process engineering, CNC programming, machining, or related precision-manufacturing experience preferred. 

• Experience working in a high-mix, precision CNC machining environment strongly preferred. 

• Experience with aerospace, defense, medical, or other highly regulated precision-manufacturing industries preferred. 

• Experience with CAD/CAM software and CNC programming systems preferred. 

• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or structured continuous-improvement methodologies preferred. 

Key Performance Expectations 

Success in this position will be demonstrated through measurable improvements including: 

• Reduced machining cycle times. 

• Improved machine utilization and manufacturing throughput. 

• Reduced setup and changeover time. 

• Improved tooling performance and tool life. 

• Reduced scrap and rework. 

• Improved manufacturing process capability and repeatability. 

• Reduced unnecessary manufacturing operations and routing steps. 

• More accurate manufacturing standards and routings. 

• Successful implementation of new manufacturing processes. 

• Sustainable resolution of recurring production constraints. 

• Effective utilization of equipment, tooling, and manufacturing technology. 

Physical Requirements: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, feel/reach with hands/arms, talk and hear. 

The employee frequently is required to sit and walk. The employee is occasionally required to bend and stop, push and pull, reach above shoulder level, kneel, squat, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job to include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

ITAR Compliance Notice 

Our facility operates in compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and handles export-controlled technical data and materials. Certain positions require access to information regulated under U.S. export control laws. 

As a condition of employment for positions requiring such access, applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person, as defined under ITAR (22 CFR § 120.62), or otherwise be authorized to access the applicable export-controlled information under U.S. law. 

For ITAR purposes, a U.S. Person generally includes a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or certain individuals granted protected status under U.S. immigration law.