Manufacturing Engineer

JTEKT Column Systems NA; Bronson Township (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and Vision

401(k) matching

Vacation and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

EAP

Job summary

JTEKT Column Systems North America is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to manage tooling, equipment purchases, layout changes, and continuous improvement projects in a high‑volume manufacturing setting in Hopkinsville, KY. The role requires hands‑on problem solving across machining, welding, and forming processes and close collaboration with engineering and production teams.

The incumbent will lead manufacturing improvements, support APQP activities, control plans, and PFMEA, and ensure

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• BS in engineering or equivalent work experience; MS degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in metal removal, CNC programming, welding, metal forming, or assembly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support safety countermeasures and safety team initiatives.
• Develop specifications and purchase tooling and manufacturing equipment.
• Make changes to plant layout and coordinate machine movement.
• Assist in day‑to‑day resolution of production floor problems (machine or quality).
• Coordinate with outside tool shops/vendors for tooling/equipment needs.
• Lead cost reduction and continuous improvement activities and document results.

Skills

Problem solving

Leadership abilities

Communication skills

GD&T

CAD experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

BS in engineering or equivalent

MS degree preferred

Tools

DraftSight

SolidWorks

CNC programming

Job description

• Medical, Dental, Vision,

Description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Company: JTEKT Column Systems North America

Location: Hopkinsville, KY

Job Type: Full-Time

About Us

JTEKT Column Systems North America is a dynamic and innovative Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive supplier, heavy truck, off-road/utility and manufacturer of steering columns and related systems. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment that encourages creativity and professional growth. As we continue to expand our product portfolio, we are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Manufacturing Engineer to join our team.

The Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision,
• Virtual Medical Services
• Bonuses and Company Paid Medical Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan + company match
• Company paid life insurance and STD
• Vacation time, plus 12 company paid holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Plus more!

1 REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Reports to the Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor.

2 PURPOSE

2.1 Function: To manage or assist in managing engineering projects inclusive of building layout, tool and capital acquisition, machine modification or design, and to resolve manufacturing or quality problems;

2.1.2 Assist in product development or design changes.

2.2 Authority: 2.2.1 At the direction of the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, purchase tools, and capital equipment;

2.2.2 Coordinate machine and tooling modifications;

2.2.3 Change plant layout for continuous improvement;

2.2.4 Recommend changes to product design for cost reduction or quality improvement projects;

2.2.5 Support and direct manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams from the engineering perspective.

3 Duties And Responsibilities

• 3.1 Support and develop countermeasures for safety related issues through safety team;
• 3.2 Develop specifications and purchase new tooling and manufacturing equipment;
• 3.3 Make changes to plant layout. Coordinate movement of machines;
• 3.4 Assist in the day-to-day resolution of problems arising on the production floor. These may be either machine problems or quality problems;
• 3.5 Coordinate with outside tool shops/vendors in the purchase or modification of tooling and equipment;
• 3.6 Expedite late tooling and equipment, maintain timeline;
• 3.7 Prepare reports daily/weekly/monthly as required;
• 3.8 Document and communicate activities across the organization as required;
• 3.9 Request and self-assign work orders to communicate and document machine activities;
• 3.10 Lead problem solving and cost reduction groups with technical and hourly associates;
• 3.11 Maintains Bill of Materials, routings (labor times) and cost updates;
• 3.12 Establish and maintains Operator, Poka-yoke, PM, etc. instructions;
• 3.13 Develop material handling systems and maintain in accordance with good ergonomic practices;
• 3.14 Process validation/tool tryout;
• 3.15 Participate in APQP activities as assigned (PFMEA, Control Plans, Flow Charts, QFD, etc.);
• 3.16 Complete and/or lead ECO activities;
• 3.17 Complete Corrective Action Reports as required;
• 3.18 Maintain 5S of office, workspace, and storage areas;
• 3.19 Support scrap reduction activities;
• 3.20 Actively participate in Morning and Evening market activities and lead and report out downtime portion of activities;
• 3.21 Support Company’s perspective and direction with customer issues;
• 3.22 Cost avoidance projects in support of Engineering rationalization;
• 3.23 Support lean ergonomic activities;
• 3.24 Other duties as assigned.

3.25 Classes And Other Responsibilities

3.25.1 Molding

3.251.1Molding Engineer must have relevant working knowledge of injection molding. As well as being capable of leading the molding department, strategic planning, insourcing, establishing tool maintenance and PM’s, dryer knowledge, etc. This position will have ultimate ownership of all molding activities in the plant.

3.25.2 Tooling Facilitator / CNC

3.25.2.1Tooling Engineer is specifically responsible for supporting our tool room activities and coordinating tooling personnel. Supervision experience in a tooling environment is a must along with cost estimating, materials and processes selection, tooling management, equipment acquisition, etc. This position also performs primary support of all CNC activities in the plant and makes decisions on selection of best cost machining tooling and processes.

3.25.3 Welding

3.25.3.1Welding Engineer must have relevant working knowledge of Mig and Tig welding. They must be capable of giving direction to weld technicians, training, selection and cost justification of equipment, and have overall ownership of all welding activities in the plant. They must also be instrumental in determining proper PM’s and maintenance of welding equipment.

4 MEASUREMENTS/COMPETENCIES

• 4.1 Rationalization targets;
• 4.2 Performance of assigned production lines;
• 4.3 Capability of new tooling or equipment;
• 4.4 Plant efficiency and utilization;
• 4.5 Ability to solve day-to-day problems;
• 4.6 Ability to manage projects;
• 4.7 Timeliness of reporting;
• 4.8 Customer satisfaction;
• 4.9 Other measurements as defined.

5 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

This Position Has No Supervisory Responsibilities.

6 WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional environment, as well as a manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. This role also is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

7 Qualifications

• 7.1 High school diploma or equivalent.
• 7.2 BS in engineering or equivalent work experience, with MS degree preferred.
• 7.3 Minimum 5 years’ experience in metal removal, CNC programming, welding, metal forming, or assembly preferred.
• 7.4 Results-oriented, with leadership abilities.
• 7.5 Working knowledge of GD&T, work cells, single piece flow and J.I.T.
• 7.6 Must have excellent problem-solving abilities.
• 7.7 Excellent communication skills.
• 7.8 Draftsight/SolidWorks CAD experience a plus.
• 7.9 Ability to take project from design through tooling in to a repetitive manufacturing environment. All tasks including specifying and ordering tooling and equipment, machine installation, prototype handling, all container planning, quantity and placement of WIP, operator training, process control plans, budgeting, etc.

8 PHYSICAL DEMANDS

8.1 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

8.2 This position requires the incumbent to stand, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl occasionally and regularly requires walking, sitting, talking, and using hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee may occasionally lift, unassisted, up to 25 pounds. The employee will be required to use a computer for extended periods of time and talk on the phone. Specific vision abilities required by this job are close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

9 POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday.

This position requires extended hours and possible weekend work.

10 TRAVEL

Local travel to various worksites is required.

11 DISCLAIMER

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

12 AAP/EEO STATEMENT

It is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, or sex in all personnel actions including recruitment, evaluation, selection, promotion, compensation, training, and termination. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.