Manufacturing Engineer

MasterBrand, Inc.; Kinston (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to lead process improvements and engineering activities at the Kinston facility.

You will focus on uptime, product quality, and labor utilization, collaborating with safety, maintenance, and shop floor teams. Responsibilities include reliability analysis, root cause actions, line balancing, and implementing SOS, work instructions, and kaizen events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Wood Technology, or related field.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing engineering experience preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and process improvement methodologies.
• Experience with capital projects, automation, and equipment installations.
• Knowledge of KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and downtime metrics.

Responsibilities

• Support equipment reliability improvement initiatives through downtime trend analysis and failure modes.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve uptime and process stability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations to resolve equipment issues.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance through reliability studies.
• Develop and maintain SOS, Work Instructions, Poka-Yokes, and standardized processes.
• Analyze processes and recommend improvements for safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Determine methods, sequences, and requirements for new and existing products.
• Support line balancing, workflow optimization, and layout improvements.
• Lead Kaizen, 6S, and problem-solving events.
• Travel as needed; minimal currently.

Skills

Analytical and problem-solving

Root cause analysis

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Capital projects experience

Automation implementation

Project management

Effective communication

Multi-priority / multitasking

Education

Industrial Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Wood Technology

Tools

AutoCAD

Inventor

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers. We are the #1 manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America, and our associates produce the most comprehensive portfolio of superior cabinetry products for the kitchen, bath and other parts of the home. Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for process improvements and process engineering activities at MasterBrand Kinston (Standard Operating Sheets, Production Work Instructions, Poka-yokes, Layout Changes, Process Trainings, Line Balancing, Machine Reliability Studies, and Capital Project Execution). This position involves working in a team environment with safety, maintenance, plant production supervision, and corporate engineering support departments. This position will focus on implementing projects that directly impact machine uptime, equipment reliability, product quality, and labor utilization.

Responsibilities

• Support equipment reliability improvement initiatives through analysis of downtime trends, failure modes, and process performance.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve uptime, equipment capability, and process stability.
• Collaborate with maintenance and operations teams to resolve equipment and process issues.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives through reliability studies and failure analysis.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Sheets (SOS), Work Instructions, Poka-Yokes, and standardized manufacturing processes.
• Analyze manufacturing processes and recommend improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Determine manufacturing methods, operating sequences, and equipment requirements for new and existing products.
• Support line balancing, workflow optimization, and manufacturing layout improvements.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste and improve operational performance.
• Lead and participate in Kaizen, 6S, and problem-solving events.
• Travel as business needs require which is currently expected to be minimal.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned at management’s discretion
• Support equipment installations, layout changes, and equipment relocations through the capital project process.
• Develop equipment specifications, project justifications, and ROI analyses for capital improvement opportunities.
• Assist with implementation of automation, equipment upgrades, and productivity improvement projects.
• Partner with suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders during project implementation activities.
• Evaluate manufacturing technologies and process improvements that enhance throughput, reliability, quality, and cost performance.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of equipment reliability, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
• Experience with manufacturing process improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement tools.
• Experience supporting capital projects, automation, and equipment installations.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and downtime metrics.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Inventor, or SolidWorks and Microsoft Office applications.
• CNC programming experience preferred (IMOS, WoodWOP, and Cut-Rite).
• Strong communication, project management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Wood Technology, or related field required. 3-5 years of manufacturing engineering experience preferred. Experience with Lean Manufacturing and process improvement methodologies preferred. BS degree in Industrial/Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Wood Technology or equivalent is required.

Additional Information

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. offers a wide spectrum of cabinetry products designed to satisfy every budget and lifestyle. With a large North America footprint and diverse team of nearly 13,000 employees, we help people fulfill their dreams of a comfortable, inviting home through innovations in fashion and functionality that bring family and friends together. We invite you to visit www.masterbrand.com to learn more about how we build employee opportunity, purpose, and reward into everything we do.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable Accommodations

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is an equal opportunity employer.

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability/handicap status, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Reasonable Accommodations

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment, please contact us at [e-mail].

MasterBrand® isn’t just a cabinet company – we are an organization of people who are Building Great Experiences Together. For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers.

Building on our history by innovating how we work and what we offer, MasterBrand is proud to be an industry leader. We achieve this through The MasterBrand Way – our business system – which empowers every individual to make the team better, be bold and drive our business forward, and champion improvement in all that we do.

Through this unique culture, we strive to create a best place to work where:

• We aim for opportunity, purpose and reward in our associates’ experience all within an organization where our associates can thrive.
• We work hard to create an environment that keeps people safe, values their unique experiences and perspectives, and fosters collaboration and belonging.
• We are committed to supporting the well-being of our associates and the communities in which we operate.

Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.