Senior/Staff Manufacturing Engineer

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Niles, IL, USA
In-Office
93K-181K Annually
Aerospace • Logistics
The Role

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.  

Senior:

Estimated annual base pay: $93,000 (minimum) - $121,000 (midpoint) - $149,000 (maximum)

Staff:

Estimated annual base pay: $113,000 (minimum) - $147,000 (midpoint) - $181,000 (maximum)

  • 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, including floating 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  

Senior:

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead troubleshooting for complex process issues, applying advanced tools to identify root causes and recommending solutions to optimize workflows. Oversee hardware disposition efforts, including root cause analysis of recurring hardware defects and implementation of corrective actions.

  • Lead efforts to create, standardize, and maintain manufacturing processes for assigned areas. Monitor process metrics and implement changes to ensure reliability and alignment with production goals.

  • Lead process improvement initiatives, applying techniques like Six Sigma, DOE, FMEA, and/or simulation tools to improve capability and reduce variation.

  • Lead efforts to standardize and improve documentation across assigned processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and accessibility for operators and engineers. Implement digital documentation systems to streamline updates and enable real-time collaboration.

  • Lead medium-sized manufacturing projects, including risk assessments, process improvements, and resource coordination.

Key Skills:

  • Leads medium-sized process improvement projects, focusing on streamlining operations, reducing waste, and improving overall process reliability. Applies tools such as process mapping and root cause analysis to drive measurable improvements.

  • Use data to drive process improvements by identifying root causes of issues and recommending actionable changes to enhance efficiency.

  • Develop cost models to identify high-cost operations, compare alternatives, inventory analysis, and recommend process improvements to reduce waste, and optimize asset utilization.

  • Lead Lean initiatives within a department, addressing inefficiencies and improving flow using advanced techniques.

  • Lead DFMA evaluations for medium-complexity products, identifying opportunities to simplify designs, reduce costs, and optimize assembly processes. Recommend design changes that improve manufacturing efficiency and scalability.

  • Specifies equipment, tooling, and gaging for projects while creating detailed RFPs and RFQs. Integrates equipment needs into value stream and/or site capital plans. Leads troubleshooting efforts for recurring equipment problems and coordinates with vendors to implement solutions. Oversees preventive maintenance schedules for critical systems.

  • Provide guidance to entry-level engineers and interns on projects and problem-solving approaches. Offer constructive feedback to help them grow and develop their skills.

  • Leadership: Experienced in leading teams, mentoring junior engineers. Solve complex production challenges by applying advanced problem-solving methods, such as DOE or Six Sigma tools.

  • Leads implementation of APQP deliverables for medium-complexity projects, optimizing tooling/fixturing designs and improving process capability. Reviews data to ensure processes meet quality and performance standards.

  • Present ideas and recommendations to leadership, facilitating collaboration across departments.

Successful Candidates Typically Have:

  • 4year Bachelors BS OR 10+ years equivalent experience

Staff:

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide Technical Expertise: Advises management on advanced manufacturing processes and technologies to enhance production efficiency and quality.

  • Lead Process Improvement Initiatives: Analyzes current manufacturing workflows and implements best practices to optimize operations and reduce costs.

  • Manage Cross Functional Projects: Oversees projects involving multiple departments to develop and deploy innovative manufacturing solutions.

  • Solve Complex Engineering Problems: Utilizes sophisticated analytical methods to identify and resolve challenging technical issues in the manufacturing process.

  • Collaborate with Stakeholders: Communicates effectively with internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment of manufacturing strategies with business objectives.

Key Skills:

  • Advanced Manufacturing Expertise: In depth knowledge of manufacturing engineering principles and cutting edge technologies.

  • Complex Problem Solving: Ability to lead the resolution of intricate technical issues through sophisticated analytical methods.

  • Project Leadership: Skilled in managing and directing cross functional projects with moderate resources and complexity.

  • Process Optimization: Expertise in enhancing manufacturing processes by implementing best practices and innovative solutions.

  • Strategic Technical Advising: Provides expert recommendations to management on technology applications to address business challenges.

  • Analytical Judgment: Employs advanced analytical skills to evaluate variable factors and identify effective solutions.

  • Effective Communication: Proficient in conveying complex technical concepts and negotiating differing viewpoints with stakeholders.

  • Cross Functional Collaboration: Capable of establishing and maintaining relationships with internal and external subject matter experts across multiple areas.

  • Impact Management: Influences the achievement of customer, operational, and service objectives by adhering to technical and professional standards.

  • Technical Networking: Engages with senior professionals within and outside the organization to support project goals and knowledge sharing

Successful Candidates Typically Have:

  • 4year Bachelors BS OR 10+ years equivalent experience

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. 

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The Company
HQ: Fort Collins, CO
0 Employees
Year Founded: 1870

What We Do

Woodward is an independent designer, manufacturer and service provider of energy control and optimization solutions for aerospace and industrial markets. For 150 years, Woodward has focused its resources and expertise on delivering proven systems that perform under incredible demands. Our customers have come to rely on us to help them address and solve the challenges associated with global efficiency initiatives – from reducing emissions, to increasing energy efficiency, to helping them introduce alternative energy sources.

Why Work With Us

A career at Woodward offers professional and personal growth. You will work alongside the brightest minds in our industry, help develop innovative technology and products, and contribute to our company’s goal of always innovating for a better future. People join Woodward for a job and end up building a career for a lifetime.

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