Manufacturing Engineer

gpac; Waterbury (CT); On-site; USD 78,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Life insurance

Retirement benefits

Professional development assistance

Job summary

gpac is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to lead continuous improvement initiatives across plastic injection molding, assembly, secondary operations, and automation. The focus is on improving OEE, reducing downtime, standardizing processes, and driving overall efficiency on the production floor.

This role emphasizes ownership: identify problems, design solutions, implement changes, and measure results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of hands-on manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience with plastic injection molding.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Six Sigma training or experience.
• Experience with root-cause analysis and process improvement.
• Ability to manage projects, timelines, and budgets.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of a manufacturing organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, equipment, and workflow.
• Use Lean principles to improve OEE, changeovers, downtime, and plant performance.
• Analyze process flow and value streams and recommend improvements.
• Investigate manufacturing problems and eliminate root causes.
• Improve and optimize injection molding processes and equipment.
• Help design and implement new manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Develop equipment layouts and manufacturing methods.
• Support automation projects and new equipment launches.
• Develop and improve technical operating instructions.
• Coordinate project priorities, resources, timelines, and budgets.
• Work closely with production, engineering, quality, and other teams.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Root-cause analysis

Project management

Problem solving & communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field

Tools

PLC programming

SolidWorks

Job description

A growing manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to lead continuous improvement initiatives and help improve performance across a diverse manufacturing environment.

This is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys being on the production floor, solving problems, improving processes, and seeing the measurable results of their work.

The Manufacturing Engineer will work across plastic injection molding, assembly, secondary operations, and automation. The focus is improving OEE, reducing downtime, improving changeovers, eliminating errors, standardizing processes, and helping the operation become more efficient.

What You'll Do

• Lead continuous improvement projects from concept through implementation - Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, equipment, and workflow - Use Lean principles to improve OEE, changeovers, downtime, and plant performance - Analyze process flow and value streams and recommend improvements - Investigate manufacturing problems and eliminate root causes - Improve and optimize injection molding processes and equipment - Help design and implement new manufacturing processes and equipment - Develop equipment layouts and manufacturing methods - Support automation projects and new equipment launches - Develop and improve technical operating instructions - Coordinate project priorities, resources, timelines, and budgets - Work closely with production, engineering, quality, and other teams

The position has meaningful ownership. You will not simply maintain existing processes. You will be expected to identify problems, develop solutions, implement improvements, and measure the results.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field - 3-5 years of hands-on manufacturing engineering experience - Experience with plastic injection molding - Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience - Six Sigma training or experience - Experience with root-cause analysis and process improvement - Ability to manage projects, timelines, and budgets - Strong problem-solving and communication skills - Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of a manufacturing organization

Experience supporting automation projects, PLC programming, SolidWorks, or manufacturing equipment implementation is a plus.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on manufacturing performance rather than spending most of your time behind a desk.

You'll have the opportunity to work across injection molding, automation, assembly, and other manufacturing processes while taking ownership of projects that improve productivity, quality, uptime, and efficiency.

The company also offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, life insurance, retirement benefits, and professional development assistance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.