Manufacturing Engineer

Sears Manufacturing Co.; Davenport (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sears Manufacturing Co. is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to enhance automation, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement across facilities in Davenport, IA.

You will work with production, quality, maintenance, and material flow teams to boost safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, strong PLC and factory automation knowledge, and proficiency in problem-solving and project management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years manufacturing engineering experience.
• Factory automation experience and knowledge of PLC systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production systems.
• Experience with process improvement and problem-solving methodologies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement efficient manufacturing processes.
• Analyze production workflows and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Improve product quality, throughput, and operational efficiency.
• Support new product introductions and manufacturing launches.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, process documentation, and standard operating procedures.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for manufacturing issues.
• Evaluate and improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Lead continuous improvement projects using Lean Manufacturing methodologies.
• Collaborate with production teams to reduce waste, scrap, rework, and downtime.
• Monitor and analyze production metrics to drive performance improvements.
• Participate in capital equipment selection, installation, and validation activities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and environmental standards.
• Train production personnel on new processes and equipment.
• Lead automation projects.
• Integrate robotics and automated equipment.
• Improve OEE and reduce downtime.
• Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

Skills

Factory automation

Lean manufacturing

Process improvement

Root cause analysis

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Production systems understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD software (SolidWorks/AutoCAD)

ERP/MRP systems

HMI/SCADA & vision systems

Robotics & PLC programming

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Davenport, Iowa

Department: Manufacturing Engineering

Reports To: Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and hands‑on Manufacturing Engineer with experience in factory automation, process improvement, and production equipment integration to support and improve manufacturing operations through process optimization, equipment improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Manufacturing Engineer will work closely with production, quality, maintenance, and material flow teams to enhance safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement efficient manufacturing processes.
• Analyze production workflows and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Improve product quality, throughput, and operational efficiency.
• Support new product introductions and manufacturing launches.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, process documentation, and standard operating procedures.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for manufacturing issues.
• Evaluate and improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Lead continuous improvement projects using Lean Manufacturing methodologies.
• Collaborate with production teams to reduce waste, scrap, rework, and downtime.
• Monitor and analyze production metrics to drive performance improvements.
• Participate in capital equipment selection, installation, and validation activities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and environmental standards.
• Train production personnel on new processes and equipment.
• Lead automation projects.
• Integrate robotics and automated equipment.
• Improve OEE and reduce downtime.
• Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years manufacturing engineering experience.
• Factory automation experience and knowledge of PLC systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production systems.
• Experience with process improvement and problem-solving methodologies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross‑functional team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience supporting automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with project management and capital projects.
• Robotics and PLC programming experience.
• Knowledge of HMI/SCADA and vision systems.

Technical Skills

• Factory Automation, robotics, and PLC Systems
• Lean Manufacturing
• Process Improvement
• Lean Manufacturing
• Root Cause Analysis
• Production Optimization
• Manufacturing Documentation
• Statistical Analysis
• Quality Systems
• Equipment Validation
• Project Management
• CAD Software
• Microsoft applications