Manufacturing Engineer

Job Purpose: The Manufacturing Engineer is a floor-based technical resource responsible for process ownership across iwis’s job shop manufacturing environment. This role bridges the gap between engineering documentation and production execution — ensuring that BOMs, routings, tooling, and setups accurately reflect shop floor reality and that production personnel have the technical support they need to run parts correctly on the first attempt. The Manufacturing Engineer reports directly to the VP of Supply Chain and works in close coordination with the Applications Engineering group under VP Engineering. Duties/Responsibilities: Process Ownership and Floor Presence: Maintain a consistent, visible presence on the production floor; serve as the primary technical resource for all production personnel across work centers. Provide real-time support to operators on print interpretation, setup questions, process deviations, and material or component substitutions. Own all setup sheets and work instructions at the cell level; ensure documents are current, accurate, and accessible at point of use. Serve as the first escalation point for production issues before they reach supervision or quality. Tooling and Setup Management: Own the tooling program for all assigned work centers, including tool lists, offsets, presetter records, and replacement schedules. Manage tooling inventory in coordination with purchasing; flag lead time concerns that may affect scheduled jobs. Authorize tooling substitutions within defined parameters; escalate out-of-parameter changes through the ECN process. Identify setup reduction opportunities on high-changeover part families and apply SMED principles to reduce non-value-added time. BOM and Routing Validation: Review all new and revised BOMs and routings prior to first production release; validate operation sequences, setup and cycle times, and tooling specifications against actual shop floor conditions. Return inaccurate or incomplete BOMs and routings to Applications Engineering with documented corrections before production release. Maintain routing accuracy for runner part families; conduct periodic audits to align ERP data with actual cycle and setup times. Serve as the floor-side authority on BOM and routing disputes between production and engineering. ECN and Change Management: Initiate Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) when permanent process, tooling, or material changes are required. Review and sign off on floor impact for all ECNs affecting production methods, tooling, or setup. Coordinate with Applications Engineering to ensure ERP records are updated following approved ECNs. Maintain change documentation in accordance with company quality procedures. Continuous Improvement: Identify and lead structured improvement projects targeting cycle time reduction, scrap and rework elimination, and setup efficiency on runner part families. Collect and analyze actual cycle time, setup time, and first-pass yield data; use findings to prioritize improvement activity. Support 5S and visual management initiatives at the cell level. Equipment SOPs and Preventive Maintenance: Author, maintain, and revise equipment operating SOPs for all production work centers; ensure documents are current, accessible on the floor, and understood by operators. Own the preventive maintenance schedule for production equipment; coordinate PM execution with operators and maintenance personnel to minimize unplanned downtime. Track PM completion and equipment downtime; escalate recurring failures and recommend corrective action or capital repair as warranted. Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline; or equivalent combination of education and demonstrated experience. Minimum 3 years of experience in a manufacturing engineering or process engineering role in a discrete, mixed-model, or job shop environment. Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications. Working knowledge of ERP-based BOM and routing structures; experience validating or correcting routing data. Hands-on experience with tooling selection, setup documentation, and machine setup in a machining or assembly environment. Familiarity with ECN processes and change control documentation. Must be able to speak and read English proficiently; strong floor presence and communication skills required to work effectively with operators, leads, and supervisors. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Experience in a low-volume, high-mix or job shop manufacturing environment preferred. Formal training or applied experience with SMED, 5S, or other lean manufacturing tools preferred. Experience with company ERP system preferred. Employment Type: Full Time Years Experience: 3 - 5 years Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 Annual Bonus/Commission: No