Manufacturing Engineer

The Kinetic Group; Anoka (MN); On-site; USD 89,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental

Vision

Disability and life insurance

401K

PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Gear discounts

Value-driven mission

Job summary

The Kinetic Group is a world leader in design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition, with facilities in Minnesota and several other states. We seek a Manufacturing Engineer III to lead complex initiatives that boost safety, quality, throughput, and cost efficiency across operations.

Based in Anoka, this senior role partners with multiple engineering teams to drive excellence. You will lead cross-functional teams, justify new equipment and automation, and manage capital

Qualifications

• 4+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in a high-volume production environment.
• Experience leading complex process improvement, equipment implementation, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, process capability, root cause analysis, and statistical problem-solving techniques.
• Experience leading capital equipment projects from concept through production launch.
• Strong project management, communication, and technical leadership skills.
• Experience using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale manufacturing improvement initiatives that increase production capacity, efficiency, quality, and operational performance.
• Serve as a technical leader for process design, optimization, and standardization across multiple manufacturing areas.
• Develop and implement manufacturing strategies that support business growth, operational excellence, and capital investment plans.
• Lead cross-functional teams in identifying and resolving complex manufacturing and production challenges.
• Evaluate, justify, and implement new equipment, automation technologies, tooling, and manufacturing systems.
• Manage capital projects from concept through implementation, including vendor selection, installation, startup, and validation.
• Utilize data analysis and statistical methods to improve process capability, reduce variation, and increase operational performance.
• Partner with Materials Engineering on projects involving material performance, forming, thermal processing, and product manufacturability.
• Establish manufacturing standards, best practices, and engineering documentation to support operational consistency.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Manufacturing Engineers, Engineering Technicians, and Operations personnel.
• Interface with suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and external technical resources to identify and implement industry best practices.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the operation.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Process improvement

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Statistical analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Job description

Job Description The Kinetic Group is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition under the iconic brands B&P, CCI, Federal Premium, Fiocchi, HEVI, Remington and Speer. We have domestic ammunition manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Idaho, Arkansas, and Missouri, and service law enforcement, government agencies and sporting enthusiasts throughout the world. Today, The Kinetic Group is a part of the Ammo+ division of The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which holds a diverse portfolio of companies in the defense, security, automotive, aerospace and rail industries. As we continue to invest in and expand our steel case manufacturing capabilities, we are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer III to lead complex manufacturing initiatives that improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost across our operations. This role serves as a senior technical resource responsible for developing manufacturing strategies, leading process and equipment improvements, and building scalable production capabilities. The Manufacturing Engineer will partner closely with Materials Engineering (Steel Processing), Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and to drive operational excellence and support future growth. This position reports to the Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and is based out of our Anoka office.

What you’ll do:

• Lead large-scale manufacturing improvement initiatives that increase production capacity, efficiency, quality, and operational performance
• Serve as a technical leader for process design, optimization, and standardization across multiple manufacturing areas
• Develop and implement manufacturing strategies that support business growth, operational excellence, and capital investment plans
• Lead cross-functional teams in identifying and resolving complex manufacturing and production challenges
• Evaluate, justify, and implement new equipment, automation technologies, tooling, and manufacturing systems
• Manage capital projects from concept through implementation, including vendor selection, installation, startup, and validation
• Utilize data analysis and statistical methods to improve process capability, reduce variation, and increase operational performance
• Partner with Materials Engineering on projects involving material performance, forming, thermal processing, and product manufacturability
• Establish manufacturing standards, best practices, and engineering documentation to support operational consistency
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Manufacturing Engineers, Engineering Technicians, and Operations personnel
• Interface with suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and external technical resources to identify and implement industry best practices
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the operation

Experience you bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline
• 4+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in a high-volume production environment
• Demonstrated success leading complex process improvement, equipment implementation, and operational excellence initiatives
• Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, process capability, root cause analysis, and statistical problem-solving techniques
• Experience leading capital equipment projects from concept through production launch
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive results without direct authority
• Strong project management, communication, and technical leadership skills
• Experience using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies

You might have:

• Experience in steel metal forming, stamping, machining, cold heading, wire forming, or related steel manufacturing processes
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in a high-volume production environment
• Exposure to steel heat treatment, annealing, tempering, or thermal processing operations
• Automation, robotics, controls, or manufacturing systems integration experience
• Experience supporting highly automated or continuous manufacturing environments
• Green Belt, Black Belt, PMP, or equivalent certification
• Experience in ammunition, defense, automotive, aerospace, or other high-volume precision manufacturing industries
• Track record of leading significant productivity, quality, or cost-reduction initiatives

Work Environment: Employee work assignments may include tasks working with and/or exposure to potentially hazardous areas, including flammables and explosives. Safety training is provided to all employees to ensure compliance with company and federal regulations.

Pay Range: $88,600.00 - $124,200.00 The actual annual salary offered to a candidate will be based on variables including experience, geographic location, education, and skills/achievements, and will be mutually agreed upon at the time of offer. We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including:

• medical and dental
• vision
• disability and life insurance
• 401K
• PTO
• tuition reimbursement
• gear discounts
• the ability to add value to an exciting mission!

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veteran/Disabled International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulation (EAR) Requirements:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national; (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (a/k/a green card holder); (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157; or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158 or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Gun Control Act Requirements:

It is unlawful for these categories of persons to possess (for business or personal reasons) firearms or ammunition: (i) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (ii) fugitive from justice; (iii) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substance Act 21 U.S.C. 802); (iv) who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution; (v) illegal alien; (vi) discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; (vii) who has renounced his or her United States Citizenship; (viii) who is subject to a court order restraining the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner; or (ix) who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Across The Kinetic Group, we rally for the customer by fostering collaboration, sharing insights and scaling competencies. We engineer our products in ways that match the drive of the people who put them to work in the field, on the course and on the battlefield. We’re not just a name on the door — we are the people developing the products that help customers the world over. The Kinetic Group is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered for employment without to regard race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and any other characteristics protected by law.

The EEO Law poster is available here: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail].

We reserve the right to limit our Postings in any jurisdiction, country or territory.