Manufacturing Engineer II - 1st Shift

Manufacturing Engineer IIKato Cable is seeking an experienced, hands-on Manufacturing Engineer II to lead process improvements, advance automation, and strengthen manufacturing performance across our production operations in Mankato, Minnesota.Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 5:30am - 4:00 pm Salary: $65k - $75k annuallyThis is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, working directly with production teams, and turning data and technical expertise into sustainable results.In this role, you will:Design, optimize, and validate manufacturing and equipment processesLead Lean Manufacturing and 5S initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and minimize variationIdentify and implement automation opportunitiesLead capital equipment projects from specification and vendor evaluation through implementation and validationServe as the primary engineering resource for complex customer-driven manufacturing projectsLead root cause analysis and support effective corrective and preventive actionsUse production data and KPIs to improve quality, cycle time, equipment uptime, and overall performanceManage engineering changes and ensure accurate, compliant documentationProvide technical training and guidance to engineers, technicians, and production employeesCollaborate with Production, Quality, Project Engineering, and Supply Chain to develop practical, sustainable solutionsWhat we're looking for:Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering fieldFour to seven years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environmentDemonstrated experience with equipment troubleshooting, process optimization, and continuous improvementExperience using CAD software and manufacturing data to support engineering decisionsStrong project-management, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skillsAbility to independently manage competing priorities while remaining actively involved on the production floorExperience with automation, capital equipment acquisition, cable assembly or wire harness manufacturing, Lean or Six Sigma methodologies, ERP systems, or ISO 9001 is preferred.The ideal candidate is proactive, accountable, and comfortable influencing decisions across technical and non-technical teams. You understand that successful engineering improvements must consider the full impact on people, product, and process—not just the immediate technical solution.If you are ready to take ownership of meaningful manufacturing improvements and serve as a trusted technical resource, we would like to hear from you.