Manufacturing Engineer

Backburner Labs, Inc; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Backburner Labs, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer– I to bridge design engineering and the production floor, owning design transfer, prototype builds, and instruction development.

You will write and validate instructions for electromechanical assemblies, fixtures, and tooling while collaborating across disciplines. The role includes contributing to facility operations, floor layout, packaging design, and light engineering tasks in a fast-paced, varied environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or production engineering.
• Experience writing and validating work instructions for electromechanical assembly.
• Hands-on experience building, assembling, and troubleshooting electromechanical products.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks or Onshape for fixture design and basic part modeling.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and BOMs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-directed with ability to adapt to shifting priorities.
• Detail-oriented with a strong quality mindset.

Responsibilities

• Own the design transfer process from engineering to production for electromechanical products.
• Participate in first article and prototype builds to understand assembly sequences.
• Author and maintain detailed version-controlled work instructions.
• Validate work instructions by walking team through builds and iterating revisions.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Onshape

Job description

Welcome to Backburner Labs

Metal to Mobile

Some companies build software. Others build hardware. We build whatever the problem demands.

Backburner Labs is a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy where mechanical, electrical,systems,and software engineers work together to solve complex technical challenges. From embedded systems and industrial automation to robotics, medical devices, IoT, cloud platforms,and AI-enabledapplications, we help our clients build productsthat oftendon'texist yet.

Our clients come to us whenthe engineeringis difficult, the timeline is ambitious, and thereisn'ta roadmap waiting to be followed.They'relooking for engineers who can create one.

If that sounds exciting rather than intimidating,you'llprobably enjoyworking here.

You'llcollaborate with talented engineers across disciplines, influence technical decisions, learnnew technologies, and help turn ideas on a whiteboard into products used in the real world. We move quickly, trust our engineers, and expect everyone to contribute ideas,not just code, designs, or specifications.

Ifyou'rethe kind of engineer who asks, "What's the hardest problem we're solving?"beforeasking, "What's the tech stack?",you'llprobably feelright at home.

Come build whatdoesn'texist yet.

Quick Facts

• Founded: 2019
• Company: ~50 people (full-time and contract employees)
• Current location: St Paul - St Anthony Park area
• Future location: Minneapolis - Prospect Park area (we have leaseda 43,000 sq ft building)
• Revenue: doubled every year for 5 years (more details shared later)
• Client retention: 93%

About the Role

We'relooking for a“Manufacturing Engineer– I”to serve as the critical bridge between our design engineering teams and the production floor.You'llown the design transfer process,taking completed (or near-completed) electrical, mechanical, and software designs and translating them into clear, repeatable manufacturing processes. This means getting hands-on with prototype builds, writing and validating work instructions, designing fixtures and tooling, training assembly staff, and continuously improving how we build products.

Becausewe'rea small team that works across a wide variety of products and industries,you'llalso contribute to facility operations,production floor layout,packaging design, and light engineering tasksas needed. If you thrive in environments where the work is varied, the pace is fast, andnotwo days lookthesame,this role is for you.

Details:

• Reports to: Manufacturing Operations Manager
• Team: ~7
• Status: Full-time employee
• Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000
• Interview process: (~2.5 weeks):
  • Head of Talent - video call
  • Manufacturing Operations Manager- video call
    • Panel interview and tour - in person
      • Peers
      • Leadership
  • Decision

What You'll Do

Design Transfer and Work Instructions

• Own the design transfer process from engineering to production for electromechanical products spanning mechanicalassemblies, electrical panels, cable assemblies, PCBAs, and software-configured devices.
• Participate infirst articleand prototype builds to develop firsthand understanding of each product's assembly sequence.
• Authorandmaintaindetailed version-controlled work instructions covering mechanical assembly, electrical integration, software configuration, and system checkouttesting
• Validate work instructions by walking team members throughbuilds, collecting feedback, and iterating through multiple revision cycles until documentation is production-ready

Process Engineering and Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate assembly processes andidentifyopportunities to reduce time, cost, and complexity.
• Recommend design-for-manufacturability improvements back to the engineering team, such asconsolidatingparts, outsourcing sub-assemblies, or simplifyingassembly procedures.
• Design and build test fixtures, jigs, and tooling to improve assembly speed, consistency, and quality
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for receiving inspection, in-process checks, and finaltests.
• Track defects, rework rates, and scrap toidentifytrends and drive corrective actions
• Establish andmaintainthe QA process to ensure all products shipped meet customer and Backburner Labs quality standards.

Training and Team Development

• Train assembly technicians and technical support staff on new products, processes, and work instructions through hands‑on coaching
• Lead ESD awareness and handling training for all team members who interact with sensitive electronics.
• Support safety initiatives and contribute to OSHA compliance efforts, including participation in the safety committee.
• Check in regularly with production staff to gather feedback and address issues before they become systemic.

Client and Leadership Communication

• Work directly with the manufacturing manager to meet production schedules and delivery commitments.
• Communicate production status, capacity, and cost information to company leadership.
• Interface with clients on build progress, delivery timelines, and design transfer milestones
• Get involved early in the design process to catch manufacturability issues before they reach the production floor.

Production Floor and Facility Operations

• Design and organize assembly workstations withappropriate layout, tooling, ergonomics, and lighting
• Plan and execute production floor changes as customer projects start up, scale, or wind down, including teardown and mothballing of completed programs.
• Identifyandprocureproduction equipment and material handling solutions such as racks, bins, pallet jacks, and ESD-safe work surfaces.
• Develop andmaintainclear labeling, signage, and material flow throughout the facility.
• Support facility buildout and expansion efforts as the business grows into new oradditionalspaces

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform light mechanical and electrical engineering tasks as needed, such as simple part modeling, cable assembly design, or electrical panel layout.
• Design product packaging solutions including foam inserts, bubble wrap,bagging, labeling,and corrugated packagingappropriate toeach product's size, weight, andenvironmentalsensitivity
• Coordinate with external vendors tosourceproductsand services thatcomplementthe company's manufacturing capabilities.
• Developproductdatasheets,manuals, user guides, and quick-start documentation for end customers.
• Support production assembly during periods of high demand or between design transfer projects
• Support the setup and adoption of ERP and PLM systems as the company scales, including defining workflows for document control, BOM management, and production tracking.
• Assistwith other duties as assigned in a growing, multi-disciplinary environment.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience inmanufacturingengineering, process engineering, or a production engineering role
• Demonstrated experience writing and validating work instructions for electromechanical assembly
• Hands-on experience building, assembling, and troubleshooting electromechanical products
• Proficiencywith 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks orOnshapefor fixture design and basic part modeling
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and BOMs
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create clear documentation and work effectively across teams
• Self-directed and comfortable working in an environment where priorities shift, and roles overlap
• Detail-oriented with a strong quality mindset

Nice to Have

• Experience ina contractmanufacturing, low-volume, or high-mix production environment
• Familiarity with ERP and PLM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics or Arena PLM
• Background in packaging design or experience coordinating with packaging vendors
• Knowledge of ESD handling standards and best practices
• Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies
• Cross‑functional experience inmechanical,electrical, and softwareengineering
• Familiarity with FDA-regulated or quality management system environments (ISO 13485,ISO 9001)

ALL ARE WELCOME

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people of all backgrounds and believe different experiences, perspectives, and ideas make our team and our work better.