Manufacturing Engineer

Vulcan Elements; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements in Durham, NC is expanding a vast manufacturing facility to produce American rare-earth magnets. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will own end-to-end processes—from design and equipment specification to installation, commissioning, and scale-up to full capacity.

This high-impact role requires deep technical expertise and leadership. You will lead equipment selection, process optimization, and project management while ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Automation Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in heavy equipment design, vendor management, and full-cycle commissioning.
• Proficient in CAD for complex equipment assemblies and validating designs.
• Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and Process Flows.
• Ability to read electrical/pneumatic schematics and perform core calculations.

Responsibilities

• Lead equipment and vendor selection with technical and financial comparisons.
• Own end-to-end process design, vendor performance, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop and optimize processes to improve throughput, quality, and reliability.
• Manage technical schedules, budgets, and deliverables aligned with milestones.
• Provide hands-on startup support to stabilize processes and remove bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with R&D to develop future production line innovations.
• Ensure safety, environmental, and quality compliance across all activities.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Technical documentation

Electrical/Pneumatic schematics

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical, Electrical, or Automation Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Simulation software

MES systems

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare‑earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high‑technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency.

As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of a massive 1 million square foot manufacturing facility expansion—from design and equipment specification through installation, commissioning, production startup, and scale‑up to full capacity. You will be responsible for a process step, translating pilot‑line processes into full‑scale, stable, and repeatable production systems. This is a high‑impact, high‑ownership role requiring deep technical expertise and leadership.

Core Expectations & Responsibilities

• Critical Priority — Equipment & Vendor Selection: Lead the evaluation, quote comparison, and selection of advanced manufacturing technologies and vendors. You will own the technical and financial side‑by‑side comparisons to ensure selected machinery meets our aggressive scaling and quality goals.
• End‑to‑End Process Ownership: Own equipment design/requirements, vendor performance and schedule, commissioning activities, process development, and production qualification for a major heavy production process (alloy production, casting, jet milling, powder production, pressing, and sintering operations).
• Process Optimization: Develop and optimize manufacturing processes to improve throughput, quality, and equipment reliability. Monitor OEE results and station cycle times to drive yield and capacity improvements.
• Project Management: Manage technical schedules, budgets, and deliverables aligned with company milestones and customer commitments.
• Hands‑on Startup Support: Provide hands‑on support during production startup, helping stabilize processes and eliminate early bottlenecks.
• Future Innovation: Develop and innovate new processes and equipment strategies (collaborating with R&D) to implement in future production lines, pushing Vulcan to achieve best‑in‑class magnet manufacturing.
• EHS & Quality Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all process activities.

Travel: This position will require some interaction and travel to support equipment development reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) as needed (estimated at <25% travel).

Deliverables

• Risk & Safety: Risk Assessments, Ergonomic Assessments, PFMEA.
• Process Design: Line Layouts, Process Flow Charts, Bill of Process (BOP), Station Cycle Times, Process Sheets, and Simulations.
• Engineering Diagrams: CAD Drawings, Electrical & Pneumatic Drawings, and performing necessary Electrical and Pneumatic Calculations.
• Quality & Control: Quality Control Plans, R&R (Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility) Studies, Quality Checklists, and Process Checklists.
• Operations & Maintenance: Work Instructions (SOPs), Calibration Procedures, Spare Parts Lists, Bill of Materials (BOM), and Maintenance Manuals.
• Controls & IT: HMI Controls Manuals, Vision Programs, MES Transactions Lists.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 3+ years of experience.
• CAD Proficiency: Strong, hands‑on experience creating, modifying, and validating complex equipment assemblies in CAD.
• Equipment Design & Commissioning: A proven track record in heavy custom equipment design, vendor management, and full‑cycle commissioning for thermal or raw material processing.
• Documentation Mastery: Expert‑level experience authoring and developing standard manufacturing documents (PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and Process Flows).
• Technical Literacy: Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and pneumatic diagrams, including performing core engineering calculations (electrical/pneumatic).

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience specifically in heavy industrial manufacturing, metallurgy, foundry operations, or chemical processing.
• Experience handling reactive powders or managing high‑temperature vacuum furnace environments.
• Proficiency with advanced simulation software for workflow and line balancing.
• Familiarity with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) implementation and transaction mapping.