Senior Manufacturing Engineer

We have a fantastic Sr. Manufacturing Engineer position with a rapidly growing aerospace manufacturing and FAA repair business based out of Oswego/Aurora, IL. Pay is to 130/140K plus 5% bonus. Initial focus on facility relocation and process stabilization, with longer-term emphasis on continuous improvement. This role combines hands-on engineering, lean process design, equipment maintenance and safety strategy, and technical troubleshooting to ensure a smooth transition and long-term performance of production, repair, and testing systems. The successful candidate must have an excellent technical aptitude, be analytical and detail oriented, and be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment with a diverse product line.

Responsibilities:

• Design support at all stages of the design process from vetting to proposal, through design, manufacturing, and qualification testing until completion and product introduction.
• Lead and coordinate engineering activities for a full-site relocation, including logistics planning and the development of shop floor layouts using Lean principles to improve workflow, reduce waste, and optimize space utilization.
• Develop and maintain Manufacturing Orders (MO), Bill of Operations (BOO), and Bill of Materials (BOM) within electronic ERP system.
• Apply Lean manufacturing tools (5S, Kaizen, VSM, SMED, standardized work, visual controls) to improve efficiency and reduce variation.
• Write, review, train on, and support production with respect to SOP/SWI documents, product work instructions, and inspection processes.
• Collaborate with operations team to maintain or improve, KPIs such as TAT, FPY, and scrap/rework.
• Collaborate with QA team on root-cause analysis and corrective action activities for quality, performance, and safety issues.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related field required (advanced degree preferred).
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, ideally in the aviation/aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting a facility move, production line relocation, or major layout transformation.
• Strong hands-on experience with equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and reliability engineering.
• Proven track record implementing Lean manufacturing tools and driving continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of aviation quality and regulatory standards (AS9100, NADCAP, FAA) a plus.
• Solid understanding of workplace safety regulations and procedures - OSHA requirements, safety engineering principles, and compliant equipment/system design.
• Strong CAD, ERP/MRP, and data analysis skills.
• Excellent project management, communication, and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• MUST be mechanically inclined with an eye for details.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or formal Lean certification preferred.
• Experience with CMMS systems and equipment reliability programs preferred.
• Background in CNC machining, composites, welding, aerospace assembly, or complex test systems preferred.
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, 8D, and structured problem-solving methodologies preferred.
• Training or certification in safety (OSHA 30, NEBOSH, CSP, or equivalent safety engineering coursework) preferred.