Entry Level Manufacturing Engineer

Actalent; North Carolina; On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA eligible medical plans

PTO and paid holidays

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an entry-level Manufacturing Engineer to support continuous improvement on a fast-paced production floor in Burlington, NC. You will analyze data, drive OEE improvements, reduce downtime, and assist with process optimization across multiple lines.

The role emphasizes hands-on problem solving, collaboration with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership, and opportunities for growth into higher engineering roles.

Qualifications

• Hands-on manufacturing floor experience or internship in a production setting.
• Strong problem solving and data analysis skills.
• Experience with lean methods like 5S/Kaizen is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Analyze production data, KPIs and OEE to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement projects to increase throughput and reduce waste.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations to improve equipment performance.
• Assist with line optimization, SOPs and process documentation.
• Monitor trends and recommend improvements to safety, quality, delivery and cost.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Process improvement

Continuous improvement

OEE / Manufacturing Metrics

Root Cause Analysis

SOP Development

Lean manufacturing

Data analysis

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking an entry-level Manufacturing Engineer to support continuous improvement initiatives within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role focuses on enhancing production efficiency, improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reducing downtime, and supporting process optimization efforts across multiple production lines. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who enjoys working on the manufacturing floor, analyzing data, solving problems, and collaborating with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Analyze production data, KPIs, and OEE metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement projects aimed at increasing throughput, reducing waste, and improving equipment reliability.
• Conduct root cause analysis for production issues and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to improve equipment performance and process stability.
• Assist with line optimization, process standardization, and workflow improvements.
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and process documentation.
• Monitor production trends and recommend improvements to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Support lean manufacturing initiatives including 5S and Kaizen events, and waste reduction projects.
• Participate in capital improvement and equipment installation projects.
• Work directly on the manufacturing floor to troubleshoot production challenges and implement solutions.
• Assist in conducting time studies, capacity analysis, and process mapping activities.

Essential Skills

• Manufacturing engineering
• Process improvement
• Continuous improvement
• OEE / Manufacturing Metrics
• Root Cause Analysis / Process Optimization
• SOP Development
• Lean manufacturing
• Manufacturing process
• Root cause failure analysis

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• OEE analysis
• Root Cause Analysis (5 Why, Fishbone, etc.)
• Lean Manufacturing
• Continuous Improvement
• Process Optimization
• KPI Tracking and Reporting
• Equipment Troubleshooting
• SOP Development
• Data Analysis
• Manufacturing Operations
• Recent engineering graduates
• Manufacturing engineering internships

Work Environment

This position operates in a fast-paced, high-volume food manufacturing facility where engineers spend the majority of their time on the production floor rather than behind a desk. The environment offers direct exposure to large-scale food manufacturing operations and provides the opportunity to lead impactful continuous improvement projects early in your career. It features a collaborative environment with strong mentorship from experienced engineering and operations leaders, and a clear pathway for growth into Process Engineering, Continuous Improvement, Operations Leadership, or Project Engineering roles.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Burlington, NC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50000.00 - $65000.00/yr.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance options Health Savings Account (HSA) eligible medical plans Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Burlington,NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail]