Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

The Manufacturing Engineer supports and troubleshoots a wide range of automated and CNC equipment on the production floor, spending approximately 80% of their time in the plant and 20% in the office. This role focuses on designing, developing, and improving manufacturing processes, providing day-to-day engineering support to operations, and ensuring high-volume automated lines run efficiently and reliably.

Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot automated equipment and large CNC centers, spending most of the time on the production floor to address real-time issues.

• Provide engineering support for plant operations, responding to daily production problems and resolving them using structured root cause analysis methods.

• Design, develop, and improve manufacturing processes to increase efficiency, throughput, and product quality across fully automated, semi-automated, and manual equipment.

• Support and maintain multiple types of automation equipment, including semi-automated systems, manual systems with multiple stations, and fully automated lines that process raw material into finished product.

• Analyze and optimize complex automated lines that include machining, load operations, assembly, riveting, mechanical screw fastening, pressure testing, and additional downstream stations, targeting throughput of up to 1,000 parts per hour.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive quality process documentation, including Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, Control Plans, Standard Work Instructions, and set-up sheets.

• Support the specification, quoting, purchase, installation, and runoff of capital equipment, tooling, and manufacturing systems to meet production requirements.

• Collaborate with tool makers and other skilled trades in a unionized environment to troubleshoot equipment issues while respecting work rules and responsibilities.

• Set up equipment and processes for new product introduction, ensuring smooth transition from development to full production.

• Apply manufacturing engineering principles to improve reliability, reduce downtime, and enhance safety and quality across all supported equipment.

• Use CAD and engineering tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, and AutoCAD to design fixtures, tooling, and process layouts as needed.

• Utilize G-code programming knowledge and CNC machining experience to support and optimize CNC operations.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.

• 3-5 years of experience as a Manufacturing or Process Engineer in an automated manufacturing environment.

• Hands-on experience supporting multiple types of equipment, including fully automated, semi-automated, and manual systems with multiple stations and actions per line.

• Strong experience in manufacturing engineering and automation, with the ability to troubleshoot complex automated processes.

• Experience working with large CNC centers

• Experience with solid CNC machining

• Proficiency in SolidWorks for mechanical design and process-related modeling.

• Ability to perform root cause analysis and systematically resolve production issues.

• Experience developing and maintaining quality process documentation such as Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, Control Plans, Standard Work Instructions, and set-up sheets.

• G-code programming experience for CNC machines.

• Manual assembly experience in a production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with fully automated lines that integrate multiple operations such as machining, load operations, assembly, riveting, mechanical screw fastening, and pressure testing.

• Proficiency with additional CAD tools such as Creo and AutoCAD.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with tool makers and other skilled trades in a union shop environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset focused on efficiency, throughput, and quality.

• Ability to manage multiple troubleshooting priorities and adapt to changing day-to-day needs on the production floor.

• Comfort working in high-volume manufacturing environments with complex automation and throughput targets.

• Attention to detail in documenting processes and ensuring compliance with established standards.

Work Environment

This role is based primarily on the production floor, with approximately 80% of time spent in the plant and 20% in an office setting. The environment includes six large CNC centers and a variety of automation equipment, ranging from semi-automated and manual systems with multiple stations to fully automated lines that convert raw material into finished products through multiple operations. The facility operates as a union shop, so direct work on equipment may at times be performed in collaboration with tool makers and other skilled trades. Typical working hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break. The organization offers 2-3 weeks of paid time off and six paid holidays, providing a balanced work-life environment in a structured production setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hastings, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.46 - $43.27/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Hastings,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.