Manufacturing Engineer I

Manufacturing Engineer I


Position Description


Date Issued:


June 13, 2026


Department:


Operational Excellence


Reports to:


Henrique Formolo


Location:


Van Nuys, CA


Position Purpose:


The Manufacturing Engineer I will play a key role in advancing Capstone Energy Plus manufacturing capabilities through process development, equipment ownership, and floor-level engineering execution. This position bridges hands-on production knowledge with the technical rigor expected of an engineer, driving improvements that are both data-informed and physically realized on the shop floor.


The successful candidate will be a self-driven engineer with strong analytical and observational skills, capable of owning processes end-to-end. This role requires a working understanding of assembly, welding, testing, and warehouse operations, and the ability to design, deploy, and standardize manufacturing processes that improve throughput, quality, and floor efficiency.


Reporting to the Operational Excellence Manager, this individual will serve as a technical subject matter expert for assigned equipment and processes, coordinate layout and workstation changes, and lead targeted reengineering initiatives across the manufacturing area. The Manufacturing Engineer I is expected to think critically, document thoroughly, and execute changes that move the operation forward.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze manufacturing processes (assembly, welding, testing, warehousing) to identify constraints, capacity limits, and engineering opportunities, and develop solutions that improve quality, cycle time, and floor utilization.
• Design and deploy new manufacturing processes, authoring the supporting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions, and driving them from concept through floor implementation and operator training.
• Coordinate factory and workstation layout changes, accounting for station capacity, material flow, ESD compliance, and ergonomic requirements; produce layouts and supporting documentation for stakeholder review.
• Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for assigned manufacturing equipment and processes, owning setup standards, troubleshooting, and qualification of process changes.
• Lead targeted reengineering projects for test cells and production equipment, including high-power electronic module test cells, defining requirements, coordinating execution, and validating the resulting capability.
• Lead root cause analysis on process and quality issues, applying structured problem-solving and lean methodologies, and implement corrective and preventive actions through to closure.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing data to support process decisions, validate improvement results, and build the technical case for engineering changes.
• Partner with production supervisors, quality, and supply chain to validate engineering changes on the floor, confirm operator readiness, and verify that process intent is preserved post-implementation.
• Lead the technical introduction of new equipment and processes, including capability assessment, qualification, and handoff to production with appropriate documentation and training.

Skills and Abilities Required

• Solid understanding of manufacturing environments, including production line flow, station capacity, takt, equipment constraints, and the engineering levers available to address them.
• Comfortable on the production floor and willing to engage hands-on with equipment, fixtures, and processes to validate engineering decisions firsthand.
• Able to decompose processes into clear, standardized steps and author technical documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, qualification protocols, and visual aids.
• Strong analytical and diagnostic skills, with the ability to move between system-level thinking and the fine details that determine whether a process actually works.
• Proficiency in data analysis; ability to turn manufacturing data into clear, defensible conclusions.
• Self-starter attitude with strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across all levels of the organization.
• Able to manage multiple engineering workstreams in parallel, balancing time-sensitive floor support with longer-horizon project deliverables.

Education and Experience Desired

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent combination of an associate's degree plus demonstrated manufacturing engineering experience will be considered.
• 0-3 years of experience in a manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or equivalent technical role; internship, co-op, or capstone project experience in a production environment will be considered.
• Exposure to manufacturing processes such as assembly, welding, machining, test, or material handling; familiarity with process equipment ownership is a plus.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing concepts (5S, value stream mapping, Kaizen) and structured root cause analysis methods (5 Whys, fishbone, 8D).
• Comfort working in an evolving, process-light environment where the engineer is expected to define structure as much as follow it.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to read and produce mechanical drawings and 2D layouts; working knowledge of AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent CAD tools.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus but not required.

Work Environment

• This position is 100% on-site. Remote or hybrid work is not available.
• Frequent work on the production floor in a manufacturing setting.
• Periodic use of hand tools, measurement equipment, and standard production equipment to support engineering work.
• Desk work for engineering analysis, documentation, layout drafting, and reporting.
• Extensive periods of walking, standing, or light lifting.
• Occasional extended hours to support key projects or activities.

Pay Range: $80,000 - $90,000 per year