Manufacturing Engineer

Iten Defense, LLC; Ashtabula (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Vision insurance

Job summary

Iten Defense, LLC in Ashtabula, OH is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to act as the primary technical resource for assigned manufacturing areas. You will develop, implement, maintain, and improve safe, efficient, cost‑effective, and repeatable processes and transition new products from development into production.

You will lead process development, review drawings and BOMs, create process flows and SOPs, establish equipment and tooling needs, design fixtures with CAD, support prototypes and

Qualifications

• Technical education or equivalent hands-on experience in manufacturing/engineering.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; associate/trade/apprenticeship also considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary engineering contact for assigned manufacturing areas.
• Lead process development for new product introductions and transitions to production.
• Review drawings, BOMs, and customer requirements to determine manufacturing needs.
• Develop and maintain process flows, routings, SOPs, and visual standard work.
• Ensure documentation is current and communicated on the floor.
• Conduct process audits and drive improvements in yield, scrap, and cycle time.
• Determine equipment, tooling, fixtures, gauges, and resources needed.
• Design fixtures and tooling using CAD software.
• Establish production methods and process parameters.
• Coordinate prototypes, trials, and validation; support production launches.
• Identify and mitigate risks before production launch.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues and bottlenecks on the floor.
• Collaborate with Quality to set controls and acceptance criteria.
• Support cost estimating and safety, environmental, quality compliance.

Skills

Process development

CAD tooling

Reading engineering drawings

SOPs and procedures

Cross-functional collaboration

Manufacturing analytics

Problem solving

ERP/MRP familiarity

Education

Bachelors or higher in engineering

Associate degree or apprenticeship considered

Tools

SolidWorks or AutoCAD

Job description

The Manufacturing Engineer serves as the primary technical resource for assigned manufacturing areas and is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and improving safe, efficient, cost-effective, and repeatable manufacturing processes. Working closely with engineering, operations, quality, and maintenance, this role transitions new products from development into production and ensures that required processes, equipment, tooling, documentation, and controls are in place. The Manufacturing Engineer also leads and coordinates manufacturing projects from planning through implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary engineering point of contact for assigned manufacturing areas, production cells, or processes
• Lead manufacturing process development for new product introductions and transition products into production
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials, and customer requirements to determine manufacturing requirements
• Develop and maintain manufacturing process flows, routings, work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and visual standard work
• Ensure manufacturing documentation remains current and that engineering and process changes are properly implemented and communicated on the production floor
• Conduct periodic process audits to verify adherence to established work instructions, process parameters, and production standards
• Determine equipment, tooling, fixtures, gauges, and other resources required to manufacture products
• Design or assist in the design of fixtures, tooling, gauges, and production aids using CAD software
• Establish and maintain manufacturing methods, process parameters, machine setups, and production standards
• Coordinate and support prototype builds, production trials, first production runs, and process validation
• Evaluate manufacturing readiness and identify potential process, equipment, tooling, material, quality, or capacity concerns prior to production launch
• Work directly with production personnel to troubleshoot manufacturing issues, process bottlenecks, and recurring problems
• Monitor process performance within assigned areas and identify opportunities to improve first-pass yield, scrap, cycle time, labor efficiency, and process reliability
• Collaborate with Quality to establish appropriate process controls, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria
• Investigate manufacturing-related nonconformances, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions
• Evaluate manufacturability and provide feedback to engineering regarding designs that may create unnecessary production complexity, cost, or risk
• Support equipment selection, capital equipment justification, installation, and implementation
• Develop manufacturing layouts and evaluate material and product flow through production
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve safety, quality, throughput, material utilization, and overall manufacturing performance
• Support cost estimating by identifying expected labor, equipment, tooling, material, and processing requirements
• Train and support production personnel on new or revised processes, equipment, tooling, work instructions, and manufacturing methods
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement efforts within assigned manufacturing areas
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with applicable safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Lead manufacturing and process improvement projects from planning through implementation, including defining scope, establishing timelines, coordinating resources, tracking action items, communicating project status, and ensuring objectives are completed on schedule

Qualifications

• Technical education, training, or equivalent hands-on experience in manufacturing, engineering, machining, or a related field required
• Bachelor's degree, Associate degree, trade school, apprenticeship, or relevant work experience all considered
• Two or more years of experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment preferred
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and production methods
• Experience developing and implementing manufacturing processes and supporting new product introductions or production launches preferred
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications, including GD&T
• Experience developing manufacturing documentation, work instructions, or standard operating procedures preferred
• Experience with CAD software preferred, specifically SolidWorks or AutoCAD
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem-solving ability
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects to completion
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, production, quality, maintenance, and management personnel

Preferred Skills

• Hands-on experience with manufacturing, machining, fabrication, molding, forming, or assembly processes
• Experience designing tooling, fixtures, gauges, or production aids
• Experience with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience with capital equipment specification, justification, and implementation
• Familiarity with CNC machining and CAM software
• Experience with manufacturing cost estimating and labor/cycle-time development
• Familiarity with automated manufacturing equipment and production systems
• Experience leading manufacturing, equipment, or process improvement projects
• Manufacturing/production floor and office environment
• Regular interaction with production equipment and manufacturing personnel
• May require standing, walking, and occasional lifting
• Exposure to machinery, noise, and industrial conditions

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Successful and timely launch of new products into production
• Process reliability and first-pass yield within assigned manufacturing areas
• Reduction in manufacturing-related defects, scrap, and rework
• Achievement of targeted cycle times and labor requirements
• Tooling and equipment readiness
• Process documentation accuracy, completeness, and adherence
• On-time completion of assigned manufacturing and improvement projects
• Cost savings from process and manufacturing improvements
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance
• Work Location: In-person in Ashtabula, OH