Manufacturing Engineering Planning

Job Summary
Truck Cab Manufacturers designs and manufactures custom aluminum truck cabs and bodies for some of the largest emergency vehicle manufacturers in North America. Because our products are highly customized and produced in relatively low volumes, success depends on strong manufacturing processes, effective problem solving, and close collaboration between engineering, production, quality, suppliers, and customers.
We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to drive process improvement, root cause analysis, manufacturing readiness, and production support throughout our operation. This role serves as a key link between design and manufacturing, ensuring that products are practical to build, efficiently produced, and supported by robust processes and documentation.
The ideal candidate enjoys spending time on the shop floor, solving problems, working directly with production personnel, and continuously improving how work gets done.

Key Responsibilities
Production Issue Resolution & Root Cause Analysis
Own investigation and resolution of Production Issue Tickets (PITs) and assigned CAPA activities.
Perform root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methods.
Develop corrective and preventive actions that address underlying causes rather than symptoms.
Track effectiveness of implemented solutions and verify closure.
Work directly with production personnel to understand recurring manufacturing challenges.
Lead cross-functional problem-solving efforts involving engineering, quality, purchasing, and production.
Manufacturing Process Development
Develop, improve, and standardize manufacturing processes across the facility.
Evaluate production methods and identify opportunities to reduce labor, improve quality, and increase throughput.
Establish best practices for fabrication, welding, machining, and assembly operations.
Support implementation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
Assist in balancing workloads and improving workflow between departments.
Fixture, Tooling, and Pattern Development
Design and implement welding fixtures, assembly fixtures, machining fixtures, templates, gauges, and patterns.
Improve existing tooling to increase repeatability and reduce setup time.
Work with production teams to identify opportunities for improved fixturing and process control.
Coordinate fabrication or procurement of tooling and fixture components as required.
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Design for Assembly (DFA)
Review customer and internal designs for manufacturability.
Provide feedback to customers, suppliers, and internal engineering teams regarding design improvements.
Participate in customer meetings involving new products, engineering changes, and production concerns.
Identify opportunities to simplify fabrication, reduce cost, improve quality, and shorten lead times.
Assist with engineering change reviews and implementation planning.
Documentation & Process Control
Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, setup sheets, and manufacturing standards.
Create and maintain master weld standards and inspection criteria.
Improve manufacturing documentation and ensure consistency across departments.
Support document control and revision management efforts.
Capture tribal knowledge and convert it into repeatable processes.
Production Support
Provide daily support to production supervisors and operators.
Troubleshoot manufacturing issues as they arise.
Assist with first-article builds, prototype development, and process validation.
Support scheduling and prioritization efforts when technical issues impact production.
Serve as a technical resource for fabrication, welding, assembly, and machining personnel.
Supplier & Customer Collaboration
Work directly with vendors regarding manufacturing methods, material selection, tooling, and process improvements.
Communicate with customers regarding design concerns, manufacturability issues, and production challenges.
Support supplier quality initiatives and corrective action efforts when necessary.
Participate in new product introductions and major engineering changes.
Qualifications
Required
Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and CAD models.
Excellent communication skills and ability to work across departments.
Comfortable working in both office and manufacturing environments.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related field.
Experience in fabrication, welding, machining, or assembly environments.
Experience performing root cause analysis and corrective action investigations.
CAD experience (SolidWorks preferred).
Experience designing fixtures, tooling, gauges, or manufacturing aids.
Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing documentation.
Why Join Truck Cab Manufacturers?
This position offers the opportunity to directly influence how products are built throughout the organization. The Manufacturing Engineer will have broad visibility across engineering, quality, production, purchasing, and customer interactions, with the authority to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement meaningful improvements.
If you enjoy solving complex manufacturing challenges and leaving processes better than you found them, we would like to hear from you.