Manufacturing Engineer

Laborup; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Laborup is seeking a driven, hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to join our aerospace and defense machining operation. You will own process development, machining strategy, and real-time problem solving on the shop floor.

This role is open-ended and is designed for growth into senior engineering or operational leadership as you build, improve, and expand production capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 1–3 years of manufacturing or engineering experience, or relevant co-op.
• Strong problem-solving ability and mechanical aptitude.
• Hands-on, collaborative, capable of working on the shop floor.
• Interest in aerospace, defense, or high-precision manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for complex machined and fabricated components.
• Define setups, tooling, fixturing, and process flow.
• Translate drawings into executable shop-floor plans.
• Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in cycle times, setups, and workflows.
• Troubleshoot production issues with machinists and operators in real time.
• Collaborate with programming, quality, and production teams on new jobs.

Skills

Problem solving

Mechanical aptitude

Hands-on fabrication

Shop-floor collaboration

Process thinking

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks / AutoCAD)

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for a driven, hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to join our high-spec aerospace and defense manufacturing operation.

We don’t run a “plug-and-play” shop. We build large, complex CNC machined components and fabricated assemblies that go into mission-critical aerospace, defense, and energy systems—where precision and execution matter.

This role is intentionally open-ended.

You will sit at the center of production, owning how work actually gets done—from process development and machining strategy to real-time problem solving on the shop floor. This is not a support role. This is a build-it, improve-it, own-it role.

If you see inefficiencies, you fix them. If you see better ways to run parts, you implement them. If something breaks in production, you step in and solve it.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to gain full visibility into manufacturing operations and grow quickly into senior engineering or operational leadership.

Compensation

• $80,000 – $105,000 / year


• Performance-based growth tied to impact


• Clear path into senior engineering or operations roles

Process Development & Ownership

• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for complex machined and fabricated components


• Define setups, tooling, workholding, and process flow


• Translate engineering drawings into executable shop-floor plans

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in cycle times, setups, and workflows


• Improve throughput, reduce scrap, and increase consistency across production


• Implement practical, floor-driven process improvements

Hands-On Problem Solving

• Work directly with machinists and operators to troubleshoot production issues


• Address tooling challenges, tolerance issues, and process breakdowns in real time


• Drive root-cause solutions—not temporary fixes

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with programming, quality, and production teams to ensure smooth execution


• Support new job launches from first article through production


• Help align engineering intent with shop-floor reality

Build & Expand the Role

• Identify gaps in processes or workflow and take initiative to improve them


• Contribute to tooling, fixturing, and process standardization efforts


• Grow into ownership of larger production scopes over time

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field


• 1–3 years of experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment, or relevant high-level co-op/internship experience


• Strong problem-solving ability and mechanical aptitude


• Ability to work in a hands-on manufacturing environment and collaborate directly with shop floor teams


• Interest in aerospace, defense, or high-precision manufacturing

Preferred

• Experience in CNC machining or production environments (mills, lathes, or multi-axis)


• Familiarity with engineering drawings and GD&T


• Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar


• Exposure to high-mix, low-volume or complex manufacturing environments


• Experience supporting process improvement, tooling, or production operations