Finishing Manufacturing Engineer

Precision Castparts; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision Castparts in San Leandro, CA, is seeking a Back-End Manufacturing Engineer to optimize finishing operations across cut-off, grind, blend, heat treat, NDT, weld repair, machining and final inspection. You will lead the overhaul of the MRO department and drive a cost-out pipeline delivering significant annual savings.

Responsibilities include SOPs, routings, process control plans, and real-time defect tracking.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong Lean Six Sigma experience and continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience with manufacturing processes, machining, and finishing operations.
• Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks) and engineering drawings.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead optimization of finishing processes including cut-off, grind, blend, heat treat, NDT, weld repair, machining and final inspection.
• Develop SOPs, routings, and process control plans for finishing operations.
• Drive MRO overhaul to a data-driven defect management system with real-time dashboards.
• Create and validate a cost-out pipeline delivering ≥3× salary in annualized savings.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Design Engineering for manufacturability and cost efficiency.
• Train personnel on new processes, equipment, and quality requirements.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP/MES systems

CNC programming

Job description

Department: Manufacturing Engineering – Back-End Operations

Reports To: Operations Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Back-End Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for optimizing all finishing operations within the investment casting value stream, including cut-off, grind, blend, heat treat, NDT, weld repair, machining, and final inspection. This role provides technical leadership to improve process capability, reduce cost, and enhance throughput. A core responsibility is the complete overhaul and modernization of the Material Review (MRO) department, ensuring rapid defect disposition, accurate classification, and closed-loop corrective action.

The engineer will also develop and execute a cost-out pipeline delivering annualized savings ≥3× the salary of the position, driven by scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor efficiency, and process redesign.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Back-End Process Support & Optimization
• Provide daily technical support to finishing operations, troubleshooting production issues and implementing corrective actions to minimize downtime and rework.
• Lead optimization of cut-off, grind, blend, heat treat, NDT, weld repair, machining, and final inspection processes.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions, routings, and process control plans for all finishing operations.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement cycle-time reduction initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and statistical analysis.
• Improve process capability (Cp/Cpk) through data-driven methods and structured experimentation (DOE).
• MRO Department Overhaul (Key Deliverable)

Transform MRO into a high-functioning, data-driven defect management system

• Redesign MRO workflows to ensure rapid disposition, accurate defect classification, and robust traceability.
• Implement standardized defect taxonomies, digital tracking tools, and automated dashboards for real-time visibility.
• Lead structured root-cause investigations (5-Why, fishbone, 8D) for recurring defects and high-cost scrap drivers.
• Establish closed-loop corrective action processes linking MRO findings to upstream wax, shell, melt, and finishing operations.
• Train MRO personnel on defect recognition, disposition criteria, and escalation protocols.
• Reduce MRO backlog, improve first-pass disposition accuracy, and shorten cycle time for defect review.

Cost Reduction & Yield Improvement (≥3× Salary Requirement)

• Build and execute a validated cost-out pipeline delivering ≥3× salary in annualized savings.
• Identify and quantify cost-out opportunities across scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor efficiency, tooling optimisation, and process redesign.
• Conduct detailed cost analyses including direct variable cost (DVC), yield performance, and rework labor burden.
• Lead projects targeting:
• Scrap reduction in finishing and MRO.
• Reduction of weld repair and blend/grind rework.
• Optimization of NDT throughput and first-pass yield.
• Tooling redesign for ergonomics, repeatability, and cycle time.
• Automation opportunities in cut-off, grind, and inspection.
• Track savings using validated financial models and report monthly progress to leadership.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Design Engineering to ensure cost-effective manufacturability.
• CAD/CAM & Tooling Support
• Create and modify CAD models, drawings, and tooling designs to support finishing operations.
• Translate design specifications into manufacturing instructions and production plans.
• Support CAM programming and toolpath optimisation for machining operations.
• Collaborate with design engineers to ensure manufacturability and minimise downstream finishing burden.
• Quality Assurance & Defect Elimination
• Support development and implementation of quality control plans, inspection procedures, and SPC methods.
• Participate in quality audits, process validations, and root-cause analysis for finishing defects.
• Lead corrective actions that permanently eliminate recurring defects such as shrinkage, cracks, inclusions, and weld repair failures.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and aerospace/industrial gas turbine requirements.
• Documentation, Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation including SOPs, work instructions, and process control plans.
• Train operators, inspectors, welders, and MRO personnel on new processes, equipment, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with upstream process owners (wax, shell, melt) to ensure stable inputs to finishing operations.
• Work closely with Quality, Operations, and Maintenance to ensure process stability and equipment reliability.

Required

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• Strong technical aptitude and passion for manufacturing processes and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) and familiarity with engineering drawings.
• Experience with manufacturing processes, materials, machining principles, and finishing operations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, PFMEA, SPC.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.

Preferred

• Experience in investment casting, aerospace, or industrial gas turbine manufacturing.
• Experience supporting or managing MRO/MRB processes.
• CAM proficiency and basic CNC programming experience.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems and digital defect tracking tools.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Cost-Out Savings: ≥3× annual salary delivered and validated.
• Scrap Rate Reduction: Year-over-year reduction in finishing and MRO scrap.
• MRO Throughput: Reduced backlog, improved cycle time, improved first-pass disposition accuracy.
• Yield Improvement: Increased first-pass yield across finishing operations.
• Process Stability: Reduction in repeat defects and rework hours.
• On-Time Delivery: Improved finishing process predictability and throughput.