AI Manufacturing Engineer

Excelitas Technologies Corp.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Excelitas Technologies in Pittsburgh, PA seeks an AI Manufacturing Engineer to bridge operations and technology, identifying high-value AI opportunities and guiding initiatives across manufacturing and business operations.

You will work with IT and compliance, use Grok Build and Codex to digitize manual tasks, build automation, and deliver practical prototypes, dashboards, and insights for leadership.

Qualifications

• BS in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in an operations-focused environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing or operations processes.
• Ability to apply AI tools to real business problems.
• Experience with AI platforms and coding assistants.
• Analytical skills with operational data (Excel/Power BI).
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Results-oriented mindset focused on usable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize AI opportunities across operations to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Lead or support AI-enabled process improvement projects from idea to scale.
• Use AI tools to digitize manual processes, build automation, and generate reports/dashboards.
• Analyze operational data to surface insights and recommendations for leadership.
• Define scope and success metrics for cross-functional AI projects.
• Document solutions and create user guides; support change management.
• Stay current on practical AI capabilities for manufacturing and operations.
• Collaborate with IT and compliance to meet security and regulatory needs.

Skills

AI tooling

Data analysis

Operational experience

Communication

Low-code/no-code

Excel/Power BI

Education

BS in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Eng or equivalent

Tools

Grok Build

Codex/GitHub Copilot

Job description

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AI Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Pittsburgh, PA, US, 15222

Job Function: Operations

Job Country: United States

Job City: Pittsburgh

Job Type: Regular Full Time

ENABLE your future through light.

Excelitas is a global technology leader with more than 7,500 employees, focused on delivering market-driven solutions to fulfill the illumination, optical, detection and imaging needs of OEMs and end-users across the biomedical, semiconductor, industrial, consumer products, scientific, security, defense and aerospace sectors.

ENGAGE with us today and make your contribution to the future! Join the team that leading technology companies turn to for cutting-edge photonic innovation. At Excelitas Technologies you are how we EXCEL.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a practical, operations-focused AI specialist to help guide and execute AI initiatives across manufacturing and business operations. The ideal candidate understands operational processes, can identify high-value use cases, and can effectively apply modern AI tools (including Grok Build, Codex, and similar platforms) to improve processes, digitize manual work, and extract insights from data. This role will be a strong bridge between operations teams and technology someone who can translate real operational pain points into workable AI solutions and drive adoption on the floor and in supporting functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to identify and prioritize AI opportunities that improve process efficiency, reduce manual effort, and enhance decision-making.
• Lead or support AI-enabled process improvement projects from idea through pilot and scaling.
• Use AI tools (Grok Build, Codex, and other available platforms) to digitize manual processes, build practical automation, generate reports/dashboards, and create working prototypes.
• Analyze operational data to surface insights, trends, and improvement opportunities; translate findings into clear recommendations for leadership and process owners.
• Guide cross-functional AI projects by defining scope, success metrics, and realistic implementation plans while managing stakeholder expectations.
• Document solutions, create simple user guides/training materials, and support change management so new tools and processes stick.
• Stay current on practical AI capabilities relevant to manufacturing and operations and evaluate which tools/approaches fit our environment.
• Collaborate with IT and compliance stakeholders to ensure solutions meet security, data handling, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

• BS in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Information Systems or equivalent
• 5+ years' experience in an Operation Systems focused environment
• Strong understanding of manufacturing or operations processes (experience in semiconductor, electronics, or complex discrete manufacturing preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools to real business problems (process digitization, data analysis, automation of repetitive tasks, or decision support).
• Hands-on experience with modern AI platforms and coding assistants (Grok Build, Codex/GitHub Copilot, or similar tools).
• Solid analytical skills and comfort working with operational data (Excel, Power BI, or equivalent).
• Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences and influence without formal authority.
• Practical, results-oriented mindset — focused on delivering usable solutions rather than theoretical models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with MES, ERP (SAP, Dynamics), or related manufacturing systems.
• Background in continuous improvement, lean, or process excellence.
• Familiarity with low-code/no-code tools and rapid prototyping approaches.
• Prior involvement in digital transformation or automation initiatives in an operations setting.

What Success Looks Like

• High-value AI use cases are identified, piloted, and scaled with measurable operational impact.
• Manual or paper-based processes are digitized in practical, sustainable ways.
• Operations teams increasingly use AI tools effectively with support and guidance from this role.
• AI initiatives are well-scoped, realistic, and deliver clear business results rather than science projects.

Please note:

• This position requires the use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for any position at Excelitas

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Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Minorities/Females/Disability/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation