Manufacturing Engineer

Job Details:

Manufacturing Engineer - Own the line. Drive the change.

Salem, IL

Competitive base salary plus comprehensive benefits

Engineer the processes behind modern automotive lighting

You’ll be the Manufacturing Engineer who keeps high-volume automotive assembly lines sharp, efficient, and ready for the next new product.

This is hands-on ownership of assembly processes from concept to full production — layouts, tooling, APQP, prototypes, and continuous improvement.

You’re not just supporting production. You’re shaping how new lighting products are built, scaled, and launched.

If you know how to turn smart engineering into smooth, reliable manufacturing, we want to talk to you.

What You'll Work On

You’ll be the go-to technical resource for complex automotive assembly operations:

• Assembly line layouts and workflow optimization
• Assembly methods and change-over fixturing
• Gauges, WIP storage, and tool storage strategy
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Process FMEAs and process flow development
• Process design documentation and standards
• Prototype and pre-production builds
• Project milestone and micro-schedule support

You’ll work directly with plant assembly operations, APQP deliverables (PFMEA, Process Flow Charts, Process Design Sheets), and internal reporting like ISIR.

Your core challenge: make complex assembly processes safer, faster, and more reliable — without sacrificing quality.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing day-to-day technical support for assembly processes in the plant
• Training team members on assembly processes and best practices
• Analyzing assembly line layouts, workflow, and assembly methods to maximize efficiency
• Evaluating and improving change-over fixturing, gauges, and tool storage
• Designing and maintaining work-in-process (WIP) storage strategies
• Developing APQP requirements including PFMEA, Process Flow Charts, and Process Design Sheets
• Leading and participating in prototype and pre-production sample builds
• Preparing and distributing internal Initial Sample Inspection Reports (ISIR)
• Supporting program-level project macro-schedules with detailed engineering micro-schedules
• Tracking project milestones and driving on-time completion of engineering deliverables
• Identifying process equipment load requirements for new and existing lines
• Defining tooling, equipment, and new process needs and communicating them to internal stakeholders

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline
• 2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience
• Background working with assembly processes in a production environment
• Experience developing or working with PFMEA, process flows, or similar quality planning tools
• Comfort leading and supporting prototype and pre-production builds
• Ability to analyze layouts, workflows, and methods for efficiency improvements
• Experience supporting cross-functional project schedules and milestones
• Exposure to Just In Time (JIT) automotive manufacturing is preferred

The Experience That Will Really Get Our Attention

You’ve been the manufacturing or process engineer that production calls first — the one who understands the line, the tooling, and the quality docs, and can turn problems into stable processes. You’re comfortable in a JIT, automotive-style environment where uptime, timing, and quality all matter.

If you’ve personally driven improvements in assembly efficiency using APQP tools and supported successful prototype-to-production launches, you’ll stand out here.

High-signal experience: APQP • PFMEA • Process Flow Charts • Process Design Sheets • Assembly line layout • Change-over fixturing • Gauges • WIP management • Tool storage • Prototype builds • Pre-production builds • ISIR • JIT automotive manufacturing

Why This Opportunity?

You’ll step into a high-impact role where your engineering decisions directly affect throughput, quality, and launch timing for advanced automotive lighting products.

You get both sides of manufacturing engineering: stabilizing and improving current assembly processes, and engineering the path for new product designs to be built at scale.

On top of that, you’ll have access to world-class health insurance, an award-winning 401k plan, paid time off, relocation assistance, supplier discounts, and a company-sponsored wellness program with gym reimbursement.

You’ll be part of an organization that actively supports diversity and mutual respect across all backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities.

Important Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related discipline required

2 to 4 years of related manufacturing experience required

Interested?

If you’re ready to own manufacturing processes, drive real improvements on the line, and help launch next-generation automotive lighting, let’s talk.

Please send your resume to View email address on us.fitly.work

Jake Moyer
View phone number on us.fitly.work

Keywords

Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Automotive Manufacturing, JIT, Just In Time, Assembly Line, Assembly Processes, APQP, Advanced Product Quality Planning, PFMEA, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Process Flow Charts, Process Design Sheets, Prototype Builds, Pre-Production, ISIR, Initial Sample Inspection Report, WIP, Work In Process, Tooling, Fixtures, Change-over Fixturing, Gauges, Production Engineering, Industrial Technology, Salem IL jobs, automotive lighting, plant engineer, production support

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