Mechanical Engineer - Production Liaison

As the leading transit bus manufacturer in the United States, GILLIG buses play a critical role in the environmental and social initiatives in communities across our nation. GILLIG is on the forefront in the transition to zero‑emission vehicles and has an unmatched reputation in the industry for quality, reliability, durability, service, and support. From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is designed and built in Livermore, CA. WHY GILLIG Leader in environmentally friendly mobility solutions including battery electric, hybrid electric, near‑zero CNG and clean diesel transit buses Renowned for its inclusive team/family‑oriented culture Stable, successful, and growing organization – a Bay Area business for over 132 years! Flexible schedules (depending on project needs) Excellent compensation including company paid medical premiums, generous retirement plan, and other comprehensive benefits DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW GILLIG Engineering is responsible for the development, customization, and configuration of GILLIG's clean technology heavy‑duty transit buses. We are committed to developing the most reliable buses that connect communities, eliminate congestion, and contribute to a greener environment. Our engineers are engaged in designing, analyzing, testing, launching, and problem‑solving across a wide range of technical areas. Liaison Engineering serves as the critical link between design and manufacturing teams, ensuring smooth and efficient production of GILLIG's high‑quality transit buses. Their core mission is to bridge the gap between engineering design and the manufacturing floor in Livermore, CA. They support current products, facilitate seamless integration of new designs and ensure continuous improvement of production processes. The Liaison Engineering Group is a cross‑functional and multi‑talented group, housing mechanical, electrical, vehicle controls, and industrial engineering as well as dedicated production support technicians to ensure coverage in all facets of producing transit buses. ABOUT THE ROLE As an Engineer in Liaison Engineering, you will take on a pivotal role, providing technical support to engineers and technicians in tasks related to the assembly of transit buses. You will have significant influence at the component level to optimize parts and systems. You will collaborate closely with a diverse team of engineers, technicians and other professionals, fostering a collaborative environment to achieve common goals. Your role will involve leading projects, mentoring junior team members, and ensuring the successful implementation of engineering solutions and improvements through effective communication and coordination. This is an on‑site position at our Livermore, CA plant that will report directly to the Lead Mechanical Engineer of Production Liaison but may also receive direction and guidance from senior engineers. IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL Demonstrate a strong understanding of engineering design principles and manufacturing processes, improving project outcomes through accurate and manufacturable designs Proficiently troubleshoot and resolve production issues to ensure consistent flow and high‑quality outputs, maintaining smooth operations with minimal downtime, and provide prompt technical support during production Perform root cause analysis, resolve complex engineering challenges, design processes, and support manufacturing of heavy‑duty transit buses Apply experience with lean manufacturing principles and process optimization, achieving better resource utilization and cost efficiency Utilize knowledge of quality assurance standards and practices, ensuring compliance and high‑quality production Facilitate cross‑functional collaboration, achieving project milestones through improved communication Evaluate and address rapid requests from the supply chain, ensuring timely response to supply chain needs Ensure manufacturability of designs, enhancing design feasibility and production efficiency Develop and improve production processes, ensuring efficient and reliable manufacturing Optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, enhancing overall production performance Act as a key contributor in providing Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) input to design teams Prepare and maintain process documentation to support safety standards, compliance with safety regulations and ensure a safe work environment to reduce assembly risks SCOPE OF THE ROLE Autonomy: Ability to work with little instruction on day‑to‑day work, receiving general instruction on new assignments from senior engineers or manager. Technically Minded: Apply industry practices and standards (NFPA, NEC, APTA, etc.). Exhibit professional expertise, applying design standards, best practices, and company procedures to resolve a variety of issues. Determine a course of action based on guidelines and modify processes and methods as required. Time Management: Work productively to deliver projects on schedule and on budget. Solve production and/or manufacturing related issues expeditiously. Communication: Collaborate up, down and across the organization to resolve mutual problems. Focus on providing standard professional advice and creating initial reports/analysis for review by experienced team members. Complexity: Responsible for a certain set of commodities or design elements within the team. Work on problems of moderate to more‑complex scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Applies learned techniques and contributes to analysis and investigation to solve problems. Quality & Standards: Technical documentation is accurate and complete. Released designs are cost effective, manufacturable, serviceable, meet all performance objectives, and customer requirements. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor or advanced degree in Engineering Minimum 2 years of experience within the Engineering industry Proficient mechanical troubleshooting and understanding of quality standards Experience with "hands‑on" troubleshooting, product assembly, prototyping, testing, and validation activities Understanding of manufacturing processes lean manufacturing principles Fluency in CAD software Familiarity with BOM structures Ability to create and understand mechanical drawings Experience in the designing of components including Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Service (DFS), and cost‑efficiency (Value Engineering) Experience working with component suppliers, engineering service suppliers, testing suppliers and product validation engineers Automotive, commercial and/or heavy‑duty vehicle design familiarity, direct experience is a plus Effective collaboration with cross‑functional teams WORK ENVIRONMENT Ability to lift 25 lbs. Prolonged periods of sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally kneel or squat The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. Limited travel may be required Must be able to navigate manufacturing environment, comfortable around heavy machinery, tools, etc. Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, (i.e. safety glasses, bump caps, hearing protection, etc.) Standard start time is 6:00 AM (negotiable) EXPECTED COMPENSATION $75,000 - $130,000/annual salary + premium benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job classification, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment. OTHER DUTIES Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. GILLIG is committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and respects the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of our employees and the people we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. GILLIG is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr GILLIG