Manufacturing Engineer Research Triangle Park, NC

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare‑earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high‑technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of a massive 1 million square foot manufacturing facility expansion—from design and equipment specification through installation, commissioning, production startup, and scale‑up to full capacity. You will be responsible for a process step, translating pilot‑line processes into full‑scale, stable, and repeatable production systems. This is a high‑impact, high‑ownership role requiring deep technical expertise and leadership. Core Expectations & Responsibilities Critical Priority — Equipment & Vendor Selection: Lead the evaluation, quote comparison, and selection of advanced manufacturing technologies and vendors. You will own the technical and financial side‑by‑side comparisons to ensure selected machinery meets our aggressive scaling and quality goals. End‑to‑End Process Ownership: Own equipment design/requirements, vendor performance and schedule, commissioning activities, process development, and production qualification for a major heavy production process (alloy production, casting, jet milling, powder production, pressing, and sintering operations). Process Optimization: Develop and optimize manufacturing processes to improve throughput, quality, and equipment reliability. Monitor OEE results and station cycle times to drive yield and capacity improvements. Project Management: Manage technical schedules, budgets, and deliverables aligned with company milestones and customer commitments. Hands‑on Startup Support: Provide hands‑on support during production startup, helping stabilize processes and eliminate early bottlenecks. Future Innovation: Develop and innovate new processes and equipment strategies (collaborating with R&D) to implement in future production lines, pushing Vulcan to achieve best‑in‑class magnet manufacturing. EHS & Quality Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all process activities. Travel: This position will require some interaction and travel to support equipment development reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) as needed (estimated at You will also be responsible for developing, reviewing, or managing the following deliverables: Process Design: Line Layouts, Process Flow Charts, Bill of Process (BOP), Station Cycle Times, Process Sheets, and Simulations. Engineering Diagrams: CAD Drawings, Electrical & Pneumatic Drawings, and performing necessary Electrical and Pneumatic Calculations. Quality & Control: Quality Control Plans, R&R (Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility) Studies, Quality Checklists, and Process Checklists. Operations & Maintenance: Work Instructions (SOPs), Calibration Procedures, Spare Parts Lists, Bill of Materials (BOM), and Maintenance Manuals. Controls & IT: HMI Controls Manuals, Vision Programs, MES Transactions Lists. Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business. Qualifications Education & Experience: Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 3+ years of experience. CAD Proficiency: Strong, hands‑on experience creating, modifying, and validating complex equipment assemblies in CAD. Equipment Design & Commissioning: A proven track record in heavy custom equipment design, vendor management, and full‑cycle commissioning for thermal or raw material processing. Documentation Mastery: Expert‑level experience authoring and developing standard manufacturing documents (PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and Process Flows). Technical Literacy: Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and pneumatic diagrams, including performing core engineering calculations (electrical/pneumatic). Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities. Preferred Qualifications Experience specifically in heavy industrial manufacturing, metallurgy, foundry operations, or chemical processing. Experience handling reactive powders or managing high‑temperature vacuum furnace environments. Proficiency with advanced simulation software for workflow and line balancing. Familiarity with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) implementation and transaction mapping. As set forth in Vulcan Elements’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. Protected Veteran Categories A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vulcan Elements Inc.