Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

The Manufacturing Engineer provides hands-on engineering support for new product launches, continuous improvement initiatives, waste reduction, problem solving, and cost reduction activities in alignment with organizational goals and objectives. This role champions projects that improve throughput, yield, and ergonomics, with a strong emphasis on automation, error proofing, and eliminating waste. The Manufacturing Engineer develops deep knowledge of plant operations, leads cross-functional efforts, and ensures that manufacturing processes, documentation, and equipment support safe, efficient, and high-quality production.

Responsibilities

• Provide manufacturing engineering support for new product startups, ensuring smooth launch into production and alignment with quality and performance requirements.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on process optimization, waste reduction, and cost savings across manufacturing operations.

• Champion projects that improve throughput, yield, and ergonomics, emphasizing automation, error proofing, and reduction of operating expenses.

• Develop expertise in specific plant areas and provide skilled troubleshooting support by actively participating in cross-functional teams.

• Provide leadership for new product launches, coordinating with development engineering, production, and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.

• Identify, justify, and prepare capital project documentation for approval, including business cases for new equipment and machinery.

• Coordinate the purchasing, installation, commissioning, and testing of equipment and machinery prior to release to production.

• Serve as a liaison between the factory floor and development engineering, participating in problem-solving and development teams.

• Represent the plant on APQP teams, contributing to advanced product quality planning activities and ensuring manufacturing readiness.

• Provide leadership in safe plant operations, participating in safety and ergonomics committees to identify issues and implement effective solutions.

• Generate, maintain, and monitor process operating parameters, capacity and utilization data, and routing information to support efficient production.

• Create and maintain bills of material and TS16949 manufacturing and production documentation to ensure compliance with quality standards.

• Support ISO14001 environmental efforts during engineering design and process improvement activities, incorporating environmental considerations into manufacturing solutions.

• Apply root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action methodologies, including 8D, to resolve production and quality issues.

• Contribute to the development and improvement of fixtures and tooling to enhance process capability, consistency, and operator ergonomics.

• Collaborate daily with engineering, maintenance, and floor personnel to address operational challenges and implement sustainable improvements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field.

• 3–5 years of experience as a manufacturing engineer.

• Strong experience in manufacturing engineering, including hands-on support of production processes.

• Demonstrated experience in process improvement and lean manufacturing methodologies.

• Proven track record in cost reduction initiatives within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience with fixture design to support manufacturing processes and improve quality and ergonomics.

• Working knowledge of TS16949 manufacturing and production documentation requirements.

• Experience participating in APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) activities.

• Familiarity with PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) requirements and documentation.

• Experience with DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).

• Ability to use SPC (Statistical Process Control) to monitor and improve process performance.

• Strong skills in root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

• Experience using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D.

• Ability to coordinate capital projects, including justification, purchasing, installation, and validation of equipment.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineering, maintenance, and production personnel.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Preferred experience in the automotive industry, particularly with Tier 1 automotive suppliers.

• Experience with lean systems and continuous improvement frameworks.

• Understanding of ISO14001 environmental standards and their application in manufacturing engineering.

• Experience generating and maintaining routing and bills of material for production processes.

• Ability to analyze capacity and utilization data to optimize equipment and labor usage.

• Experience participating on safety or ergonomics committees and contributing to plant safety initiatives.

• Strong communication skills for interfacing with multiple engineers and cross-functional teams on a daily basis.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions while maintaining attention to detail and quality.

• Comfort with acting as a liaison between the factory floor and development engineering teams.

Work Environment

This role operates in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with frequent daily interruptions and changing priorities. The Manufacturing Engineer interfaces with approximately 6–10 engineers each day and works cross functionally with maintenance, floor personnel, and engineering teams to address operational issues and implement improvements. The facility is part of a Tier 1 automotive supply chain, offering exposure to automotive industry standards, practices, and technologies. Work is primarily performed on-site in a production plant setting, requiring regular presence on the factory floor and collaboration with various departments to support safe, efficient, and high-quality operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Maple Plain, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $45.00/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 Maple Plain,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 6, 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.