Machining Engineer

Ichor Systems, Inc.; Sauk Rapids (MN); On-site; USD 86,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Paid time-off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ichor Systems is seeking a Machining Engineer to drive continuous improvement and optimize manufacturing efficiency across manual and CNC machining operations. The role emphasizes process optimization, workflow design, and robotics/automation opportunities to increase throughput and reduce waste.

Ideal candidates bring a strong background in manufacturing processes, hands-on troubleshooting, and experience with fixtures, tooling, and CAD tools to support production improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Systems Engineering or related field.
• 5–10 years of engineering experience in manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading process improvement and optimization projects.
• Hands-on experience with manual and CNC machining.
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, and layouts.
• Proficiency using CAD tools for layouts and fixturing.
• Strong Lean, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into improvements.
• Familiarity with GD&T and production systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement and optimization initiatives across machining operations.
• Analyze processes to improve cycle time, throughput, quality, and cost.
• Develop and implement better manufacturing methods and workflows.
• Design production lines, cells, and layouts to improve flow.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement capacity-increasing solutions.
• Evaluate automation opportunities including robotics and inspection.
• Design fixtures and workholding to improve repeatability and productivity.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma to reduce waste and defects.
• Use data, time studies, and root-cause analysis to prioritize improvements.
• Lead projects from problem definition to sustained implementation.
• Support equipment selection, installation, and process qualification.
• Collaborate with machinists, engineers, and operations teams on improvements.
• Develop and maintain standard work, instructions, and processes.

Skills

Process improvement

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Root-cause analysis

CNC machining

CAD/CAx

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Systems Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Mastercam

CAD software

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Machining Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement, process optimization, and manufacturing efficiency across machining and production operations. This role will focus on improving manufacturing processes, production flow, equipment utilization, quality, cost, and throughput while identifying opportunities for automation and improved manufacturing methods.

Position Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Machining Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement, process optimization, and manufacturing efficiency across machining and production operations. This role will focus on improving manufacturing processes, production flow, equipment utilization, quality, cost, and throughput while identifying opportunities for automation and improved manufacturing methods.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in manual and CNC processes combined with enough hands-on experience to effectively understand, troubleshoot, and improve machining operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement and optimization initiatives across machining and manufacturing operations.
• Analyze existing processes to identify opportunities to improve cycle time, throughput, quality, cost, capacity, ergonomics, and equipment utilization.
• Develop and implement improved manufacturing methods, workflows, and process sequences.
• Design and optimize production lines, manufacturing cells, and workstation layouts to improve flow and eliminate waste.
• Identify manufacturing constraints and bottlenecks and develop solutions to increase production capacity.
• Evaluate and implement automation and semi-automation opportunities, including robotics, machine tending, material handling, inspection, and other manufacturing technologies.
• Design fixtures, tooling, workholding, and manufacturing aids to improve process capability, repeatability, productivity, and ergonomics.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce waste, variation, defects, and non-value-added activity.
• Use data, time studies, process metrics, and root-cause analysis to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Lead projects from initial problem definition through solution development, implementation, validation, and sustainment.
• Support new equipment selection, manufacturing technology evaluation, equipment installation, and process qualification.
• Partner with machinists, technicians, operations, quality, and engineering teams to develop practical and sustainable process improvements.
• Develop and maintain standard work, process documentation, manufacturing instructions, and other production standards.
• Support machining process development and optimization, including tooling, workholding, cutting parameters, and CNC programs when required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, with a strong industrial or manufacturing focus.
• 5–10 years of engineering experience in mechanical, industrial, systems, or manufacturing engineering within an industrial or production environment. Systems Engineering experience should include a strong industrial/manufacturing background.
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement and manufacturing optimization projects within a production environment.
• Working knowledge and hands-on experience with manual and CNC machining processes.
• Experience with production line or manufacturing cell design and optimization, including identifying inefficiencies and implementing practical improvements.
• Experience designing fixtures, tooling, or manufacturing aids.
• Experience using CAD software for equipment, tooling, fixture, or manufacturing layout development.
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Ability to analyze manufacturing data, identify root causes, and translate findings into practical process improvements.
• Strong understanding of machining fundamentals, engineering drawings, tolerances, GD&T, and production systems.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills with operators, machinists, technicians, engineers, and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SolidWorks and/or Mastercam.
• Experience with manufacturing automation, robotics, machine tending, automated inspection, or equipment integration.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience with CNC programming.
• Experience with capacity analysis, time studies, value-stream mapping, manufacturing simulation, or manufacturing economics.
• Experience supporting capital equipment projects, production line launches, or manufacturing technology implementation.

For candidates based in Minnesota: The pay range for this position is $86,300 - $146,700 per year.

Ichor is committed to supporting your personal well-being and professional development. Our benefits are designed to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, provide peace of mind, and prepare for your future.

• We offer medical, dental, and vision plans across all locations, allowing team members to select the coverage that best meets their healthcare needs and budget.
• Our benefits also include a paid time-off program and paid holidays to support your time away from work.

A summary of our Benefits will be provided during the interview process.

ITAR Compliance

The business site where this position is located is an ITAR-compliant operation. Due to ITAR regulations, Ichor Systems is only able to employ US Persons. A US person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrant with “green card” permanent authorization to work document) or who is a protected person (a citizen, a national, a refugee, or a person granted asylum). Non-citizens with other visas are not eligible for hire at this location.

About Us

Ichor is an experienced leader in the critical subsystems and turnkey process equipment marketplace. Our capabilities enable the design and creation of a complete outsourced solution ranging from product concept to turnkey manufacturing to legacy service.

Ichor offers world-class process engineering, value added manufacturing, materials management and testing capabilities. Our 1500+ employees are strategically located to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service and support from our program management, sales, engineering, and executive management teams.

Our continued expansion of capabilities in South East Asia better aligns our production facilities with our customers' supply chain strategies. This further enables our expansion into new products and markets.

Ichor is headquartered in Fremont, California with manufacturing locations in Oregon, Texas, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK. Our sales and engineering office is strategically located in Silicon Valley, California.

About The Team

Precision machining is Ichor Precision Machining’s heritage and core strength. IPM's skilled and dedicated employees deliver the most complex, extreme tolerance, and superior surface finish components at unsurpassed quality levels. Joining the team at IPM means working with dedicated, highly skilled employees that drive continuous improvement and ensure we deliver superior results to our customers. IPM is excited to share that we are now a part of the Ichor Systems family of companies. Ichor is headquartered in Fremont, California with manufacturing locations in Minnesota, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK. Our sales and engineering office is strategically located in Silicon Valley, California.

Ichor Precision Machining (IPM) is an ITAR-compliant operation. Due to ITAR regulations, Ichor Systems is only able to employ US Persons. A US person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrant with “green card” permanent authorization to work document) or who is a protected individual (a citizen, a national, a refugee, or a person granted asylum). Individuals with temporary visas are not eligible for hire.

Ichor Systems provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Ichor Systems will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.