Manufacturing Engineer

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group in Peoria, IL seeks an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to develop and optimize defense powertrain assembly processes. The role covers engines, transmissions, cooling, hydraulic systems, and full powertrain integration, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency.

Responsibilities include creating documentation, supporting prototypes and ramp-ups, collaborating across disciplines, and driving continuous improvement through CAPA and ECR/ECO processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automotive, or related engineering field.
• 38 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, assembly engineering, or vehicle/powertrain integration.
• Experience with manufacturing process development, assembly planning, production support, and CI.
• Experience with PLM/ERP systems (Teamcenter, Windchill, SAP) preferred.
• Defense/heavy equipment or off-highway vehicle manufacturing experience highly preferred.
• Experience supporting engine, transmission, cooling, or powertrain assembly programs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing and assembly processes for defense powertrain systems.
• Plan and support assembly operations for engines, transmissions, cooling, hydraulic systems, and powertrains.
• Lead powertrain assembly and vehicle integration activities, ensuring proper installation and performance.
• Create and maintain manufacturing docs: work instructions, SOPs, BOMs, process flows.
• Support prototype builds, pilot production, FAI, and ramp-up activities.
• Collaborate with design, validation, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to resolve issues.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement CAPA to improve quality and efficiency.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and methods to enhance safety, quality, productivity, and throughput.
• Support product validation, FAT, vehicle integration testing, and quality audits.
• Participate in ECRs/ECOs, design reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with Caterpillar engineering practices, military standards, and customer specs.
• Monitor performance and propose process improvements to reduce waste and increase reliability.

Skills

Powertrain assembly

Vehicle integration

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

PFMEA

Control Plans

GD&T

BOMs

Work instructions

Process flow diagrams

Manufacturing documentation

CAPA

ECRs/ECOs

PLM processes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Teamcenter

Windchill

SAP

Job description

• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing and assembly processes for defense powertrain systems, ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality production.
• Plan and support assembly operations for engines, transmissions, cooling systems, hydraulic systems, and complete powertrain assemblies.
• Lead powertrain assembly and vehicle integration activities, ensuring proper installation, alignment, fitment, and functional performance.
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, assembly procedures, process flow diagrams, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Support prototype builds, pilot production, first article inspections (FAI), and production ramp-up activities.
• Collaborate with design, systems, validation, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to resolve assembly, integration, and production issues.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
• Develop and improve tooling, fixtures, assembly methods, and manufacturing processes to enhance safety, quality, productivity, and throughput.
• Support product validation, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), vehicle integration testing, and production quality audits.
• Participate in Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), design reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with Caterpillar engineering practices, military standards, quality requirements, and customer specifications.
• Monitor manufacturing performance and recommend process improvements to reduce waste, improve reliability, and increase operational efficiency.

Required Skills

• Experience developing and optimizing manufacturing and assembly processes for complex mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of powertrain assembly, vehicle integration, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting assembly of engines, transmissions, cooling systems, hydraulic systems, or complete vehicle powertrains.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, Control Plans, standard work, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience developing work instructions, assembly procedures, process flow diagrams, and manufacturing documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing tooling, fixtures, and assembly methods to improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional engineering and production teams.
• Familiarity with Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes.

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 38 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, assembly engineering, production engineering, or vehicle/powertrain integration.
• Experience with manufacturing process development, assembly planning, production support, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting prototype builds, pilot production, production launch, manufacturing validation, and production ramp-up activities.
• Experience using Teamcenter, Windchill, SAP, or other PLM/ERP systems is preferred.
• Experience in defense, military, heavy equipment, construction, mining, agricultural, or off-highway vehicle manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Experience supporting engine, transmission, cooling, hydraulic, or complete powertrain assembly programs is strongly preferred.