Production Engineer

Production Engineer Zev Technologies

About the Role

We are looking for a Production Engineer to serve as the technical link between Design Engineering and Production Operations. This role sits in between the two functions - translating designs into stable, repeatable production and assembly processes, and feeding manufacturability input back into design. It works closely with Quality, Manufacturing, and Operations day to day.

The company is actively bringing more manufacturing capability, equipment, and process in-house, and this role will directly support that effort through hands-on process development, process improvement, and documentation. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving between CAD/fixture design work and time on the production floor, has a track record of improving assembly and production operations, and has a foundation in using production systems - we use Odoo as our ERP - to plan and track work.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Manufacturing Process Support
• Serve as the primary technical link between Design Engineering and Manufacturing, translating designs into producible, repeatable production and assembly processes.
• Support process development and continuous improvement as the company brings additional manufacturing capability, equipment, and processes in-house.
• Develop, document, and maintain work instructions, process routings, and production documentation to standardize and stabilize processes.
• Troubleshoot production and assembly issues on the floor, partnering with Manufacturing and Quality to identify root cause and implement corrective actions.
• Drive initiatives that improve assembly and production operations, increase throughput, and deliver measurable cost savings.

Equipment, Tooling & Automation
• Design and support development of fixtures, tooling, jigs, and other production aids, primarily using SolidWorks.
• Support selection, integration, and improvement of production equipment, automation, and material handling systems as in-house capability expands.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations on equipment layout, workflow, and capacity planning for new or improved processes.

Manufacturing Systems & Data
• Use Odoo, our ERP system, to support and track production data, routings, bills of material, and work orders.
• Help improve production data integrity and how the organization uses Odoo and related systems to plan and track work.
• Support data-driven decisions around throughput, yield, downtime, and other production metrics.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Quality to support inspection planning, resolve nonconformances, and improve process capability.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations on production planning, staffing, and workflow to meet delivery commitments.
• Provide manufacturability and production feedback to Design Engineering early in the design process.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 3+ years of demonstrable, relevant experience in manufacturing engineering, automation/robotics, CNC machining, or mechanical engineering in a production environment.
• Working CAD experience, preferably SolidWorks, for fixture, tooling, and equipment design.
• Experience using an ERP, MRP, MES, or similar system to support and track production data; Odoo experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience improving assembly and production operations, including initiatives that increased throughput or delivered measurable cost savings.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Quality, Manufacturing, and Operations.
• Comfortable splitting time between design/CAD work and hands-on time on the production floor.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience supporting the design or integration of automation, robotics, or material handling systems.
• Experience helping bring new manufacturing processes, equipment, or capability in-house.
• Familiarity with GD&T and production-level drawing interpretation.
• Experience in the firearms industry, or personal interest/familiarity with firearms design, manufacturing, or use.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).

What Success Looks Like
• New in-house manufacturing processes and equipment are integrated smoothly, with clear documentation and stable output.
• Design and Manufacturing collaborate more effectively, with fewer manufacturability issues discovered late in the process.
• Fixtures, tooling, and automation measurably reduce manual effort, cycle time, or defects on the floor.
• Documented improvements in throughput and cost savings are tied back to specific production and assembly process changes.
• Production data in Odoo is more accurate and more actively used for planning.