Hands-On Manufacturing Engineer I

Socket.dev; Mankato (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Kato Cable, located in Mankato, Minnesota, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer I to improve production efficiency, quality, and consistency on the factory floor. You will work with Production, Quality, Project Engineering and Supply Chain to set up and improve tooling, fixtures and work instructions.

This hands-on role requires learning on the floor, participating in NPI, and applying Lean and 5S to reduce waste.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• Willingness to work on the production floor and learn through hands-on tasks.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret technical documents, work instructions, specifications, and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Develop proficiency in one of three designated production areas within onboarding and training.
• Support customer-driven manufacturing projects by ensuring tooling, testing, and processes are established and maintained.
• Design and support tooling, fixtures, and jigs to improve productivity, quality, and repeatability.
• Assist in developing and improving SOPs, fixtures, and testing requirements.
• Support equipment setup, documentation, and optimization while ensuring compliance.
• Analyze production workflows and apply Lean and 5S to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
• Execute ECOs, DRFs, and PIFs for proper documentation and implementation.
• Assist with troubleshooting basic equipment, tooling, and process issues.
• Participate in New Product Introduction activities including documentation and line readiness.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Project Engineering, and Supply Chain.
• Apply independent judgment to evaluate processes and recommend improvements.

Skills

Hands-on

Problem-solving

Planning

Documentation

Communication

CAD basics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Basic CAD software

ERP systems

Job description

Kato Cable, located in Mankato, Minnesota, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer I to improve production efficiency, quality, and consistency on the factory floor. You will work with Production, Quality, Project Engineering and Supply Chain to set up and improve tooling, fixtures and work instructions.

This hands-on role requires learning on the floor, participating in NPI, and applying Lean and 5S to reduce waste.