Manufacturing Engineer

Upside Search; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Upside Search is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to optimize production, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure product quality on the shop floor. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, quality and leadership to drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

This hands-on role emphasizes process mapping, SOPs, KPI tracking, and collaboration with maintenance and quality teams to boost throughput and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (wood products, building materials, or industrial manufacturing preferred).
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis, continuous improvement).
• Experience with process mapping, workflow optimization, and cost analysis.
• Ability to read technical drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with ERP systems (JD Edwards experience a plus).
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and improve manufacturing processes for safety, efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions to increase throughput.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Provide real-time engineering support to the production floor.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance to improve equipment reliability and performance.
• Work with quality teams to reduce defects and improve consistency.
• Analyze scrap, rework, and yield data to identify root causes.
• Support cost reduction efforts through process refinement and material optimization.
• Assist in evaluating, selecting, and implementing new equipment.
• Support layout changes, line improvements, and workflow enhancements.
• Participate in installation, commissioning, and validation of new machinery.
• Automation programming a plus.
• Track KPIs related to productivity, downtime, yield, and efficiency.
• Use data-driven analysis to recommend improvements.
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S/Kaizen

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Excel

ERP familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

JD Edwards

Job description

The Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in optimizing production processes, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring consistent product quality. This individual will work closely with operations, maintenance, quality, and leadership teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives and support day-to-day manufacturing performance. This is a highly visible, hands-on position within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibility:

Process Improvement & Optimization

• Analyze and improve manufacturing processes for safety, efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions to increase throughput.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement projects.

Production Support

• Provide real-time engineering support to the production floor.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with maintenance to improve equipment reliability and performance.

Quality & Cost Control

• Work with quality teams to reduce defects and improve consistency.
• Analyze scrap, rework, and yield data to identify root causes.
• Support cost reduction efforts through process refinement and material optimization.

Capital Projects & Equipment

• Assist in evaluating, selecting, and implementing new equipment.
• Support layout changes, line improvements, and workflow enhancements.
• Participate in installation, commissioning, and validation of new machinery.
• Automation programming a plus.

Data & Reporting

• Track KPIs related to productivity, downtime, yield, and efficiency.
• Use data-driven analysis to recommend improvements.
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (wood products, building materials, or industrial manufacturing preferred).
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis, continuous improvement).
• Experience with process mapping, workflow optimization, and cost analysis.
• Ability to read technical drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with ERP systems (JD Edwards experience a plus).
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.