PROCESS ENGINEER, Manufacturing

Job Description

Job Description

NEL Frequency Controls, powered by Abracon LLC Burlington, WI location

NEL Frequency Controls is a leading manufacturer of frequency control products, specializing in ultra-low phase noise crystal oscillators. Founded in 1986, NEL has established itself as a key player in the electronics industry, particularly in the military, aerospace, and high-tech sectors.

Frequency control products sit at the heart of the electronics that keep modern communications, navigation, and defense systems running on time — literally. NEL Frequency Controls is looking for a Process Engineer who wants to get hands-on with high-mix, precision electronics manufacturing and leave a visible mark on how products flow from raw material to finished product.

This is a floor-facing, impact-driven role. You'll partner directly with Production, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Leadership to eliminate bottlenecks, cut waste, and strengthen the process controls that keep our products shipping on time and defect-free. If you like solving real problems with real data — and seeing the results on the shop floor within weeks, not quarters — this role was built for you.

What You'll Do

• Analyze production processes, material flow, work-center layout, product routing, and labor utilization to uncover improvement opportunities.
• Lead projects that improve throughput, reduce cycle time, raise first-pass yield, cut rework, and support on-time delivery.
• Develop and refine standard work, work instructions, and process documentation to drive repeatability and consistency.
• Partner with Production and Quality to investigate defects, process variation, and recurring issues using structured problem-solving methods.
• Collaborate with Engineering on manufacturability, test flow, assembly methods, tooling, fixtures, and process capability.
• Apply data analysis, time studies, root cause analysis, Pareto analysis, process mapping, and visual management to drive measurable improvements.
• Support new product introduction and product transfers by validating production readiness and identifying risks before release.
• Recommend and implement improvements to workstation layout, tooling, fixtures, test setup, material presentation, and production sequencing.
• Track and report improvement results — productivity gains, cost reductions, yield improvements, lead-time reduction, and quality impact.
• Train and coach production employees on updated processes, standard work, and continuous improvement practices.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (equivalent experience considered).
• Experience in a manufacturing, process engineering, production engineering, or continuous improvement role. Specifically, we are looking for candidates with experience in electronics manufacturing: RF/microwave, frequency control products, oscillators, SMT assembly, test operations, or precision manufacturing.
• Solid grasp of production flow, manufacturing methods, process documentation, and shop-floor execution.
• Comfort analyzing production data, spotting trends, and turning findings into practical action.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with experience in root cause analysis and corrective action methods.
• Ability to work effectively across operators, technicians, engineers, quality staff, and leadership.
• Clear communicator who can document processes and explain changes to cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to spend significant time on the production floor — observing, supporting, and driving improvement.

Nice to Have

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent hands-on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, DMAIC, root cause analysis, or statistical process control) — highly valued, though not required.
• Background in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems, production routings, labor standards, and manufacturing KPI dashboards.
• Knowledge of quality tools such as SPC, control plans, PFMEA, 8D, capability studies, and corrective action processes.
• Experience designing or improving fixtures, tooling, test flow, workstation layout, or production cells.

Work Location & Schedule

This role is primarily onsite to support direct production observation, hands-on troubleshooting, and real-time collaboration with the shop floor. Limited remote flexibility may be available for tasks like data analysis, documentation, project planning, and reporting — but the heart of this job happens where the product is made.

How We'll Measure Your Success

• Improved production flow and fewer bottlenecks.
• Higher first-pass yield and less rework or fallout.
• Shorter cycle times and stronger on-time delivery performance.
• Clearer standard work and tighter process discipline across production areas.
• A track record of improvement projects with documented, measurable impact.
• Stronger collaboration between Production, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain.

Why NEL Frequency Controls

Join a team where precision manufacturing meets real ownership — your process improvements go straight to the floor, and you'll see the impact in yield, throughput, and quality within your first projects. We're looking for someone who wants to build a long-term career in manufacturing engineering, not just fill a seat.

Excellence through teamwork drives the company culture at NEL. We offer meaningful opportunities and resources for self-growth within a growing company. Become part of a great team where you matter! For more information about NEL, visit