Manufacturing Engineer (Rock Hill)

About the Company

Powerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform designed to move, protect, and sustain critical assets in high-consequence environments. The company combines advanced autonomy, manufacturing capability, operational expertise, and strategic acquisitions to support defense, national security, critical infrastructure, and commercial operations globally.

Mission

Our mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.

Why Join Powerus

Powerus is entering a significant period of operational growth, corporate development, and organizational scaling. As the company expands across multiple entities, manufacturing activities, and federal engagements, robust manufacturing processes, efficient production, and scalable operations are becoming increasingly important. This is an opportunity to own meaningful day-to-day manufacturing engineering work and help build the operational backbone of a fast-moving company.

About the Role

The Manufacturing Engineer develops, improves, and sustains manufacturing processes to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production. You will work closely with production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and engineering teams to optimize productivity, improve product quality, reduce waste, and support continuous improvement — leading process improvement projects, supporting new product introductions, and driving operational excellence across the facility.

Responsibilities

Process Development & Improvement

• Design, develop, and implement manufacturing processes to improve productivity, quality, safety, and cost performance.
• Analyze production processes and identify opportunities to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.
• Develop and maintain standard work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing specifications.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for process and quality issues.
• Monitor process performance using data analysis and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Production Support

• Provide day-to-day engineering support to manufacturing operations.
• Troubleshoot equipment, process, and production issues to minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and performance.
• Evaluate and recommend capital equipment investments and process improvements.
• Support production ramp-ups, capacity expansions, and workflow optimization.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Support product launches by developing manufacturing processes and validating production readiness.
• Create process flow diagrams, work instructions, tooling requirements, and control plans.
• Coordinate with design engineering to ensure manufacturability and cost-effective production methods.
• Participate in Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews.

Quality & Compliance

• Collaborate with Quality teams to improve process capability and product quality.
• Support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) initiatives.
• Conduct process validations and capability studies.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in internal and external audits as needed.

Project Management

• Lead continuous improvement and capital projects from concept through implementation.
• Develop project timelines, budgets, and resource plans.
• Track project performance and communicate progress to leadership.
• Support facility expansion, automation, and modernization initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field required.

Experience

• 3–7 years of manufacturing or process engineering experience in a production environment preferred.
• Experience with new product introduction (NPI) and production ramp-up.
• Experience applying continuous improvement and lean methodologies on the floor.

Required Skills

• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools; process development and standard-work creation.
• Root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone), PFMEA, and control plans.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and tooling/fixture requirements.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) and data-driven process analysis.
• Experience with ERP systems and CAD software; advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Preferred Skills

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience with automation, robotics, or manufacturing modernization projects.
• Experience in aerospace, automotive, or industrial manufacturing.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or regulated manufacturing environments.