Manufacturing Engineer - Automation

ContiTech; Fairlawn (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ContiTech Fairlawn, OH is seeking a Senior Automation Manufacturing Equipment Engineer for rubber products production. You will drive automation, equipment selection, and plant-wide standardization, ensuring robust, cost-efficient operations across multiple sites in the IAM organization.

You will lead capital investment analyses, champion process improvements, and collaborate with global teams to advance manufacturing capabilities and readiness for new product introductions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing or related field.
• 5+ years in Manufacturing Engineering with deep automation expertise.
• Comprehensive knowledge of rubber/plastic production processes and ramp-up projects.
• Strong experience specifying and executing automation projects with vendors.
• Travel availability 20–40%.
• Proficient in English is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for new technology investments across sites.
• Lead end-to-end industrialization of new products from design through launch.
• Provide guidance on manufacturing equipment technologies and processes.
• Define and optimize equipment concepts, automation, tooling and layouts.
• Support capital investment decisions and cost-saving calculations.
• Lead safety, quality, delivery and cost improvement initiatives.
• Use Lean Six Sigma tools for problem-solving (A3, 8D, DMAIC, SPC, MSA).
• Ensure adherence to global equipment standards and best practices.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Automation

Robotics

Vision Systems

Automation & Equipment

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing

Tools

A3

DMAIC

SPC

MSA

8D

Job description

Company Description

ContiTech is one of the world’s leading industry specialists. The Continental group sector offers its customers connected, environment-friendly, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 39,000 employees in more than 40 countries and sales of some 6.4 billion euros (2024), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.

Job Description

Senior Automation Manufacturing Equipment Engineering – Rubber Products Production (Hydraulic Hoses, Conveyor Belt, Air Spring, Drapper Belt, V Belts, Etc) – Automation and general equipment and process technical definition. Critical member of the Manufacturing Engineering BA Team, responsible for elevating excellence for Production Equipment and Standardization, Machinery and Production Design, Investments definition, Cost Saving Projects, Automation, and more, across the IAM organization. This role ensures that we define the best process and support or manufacturing operations to produce high advanced spiraled and flexible steel cord high pressure industrial hoses and other related rubber products in a robust, and cost‑effective manner across multiple manufacturing sites.

Serving as both a regional technical authority and a strategic partner to manufacturing plants, this position leads complex process revamp design and automation concepts, equipment selection and industrialization initiatives and ensures consistent launch readiness and stable production performance. Leveraging deep expertise in overall manufacturing equipment and product–process interactions, capacity and layout planning are part of the scope.

The position is responsible for the technical support and definition of equipment and related manufacturing concepts across multiple Hoses, Conveyor Belt, PTS, Air Spring, PTS plants within IAM, directly influencing the successful project technical alignment, technical specification creation, investment financial analysis support, being under capacity increase or cost reduction support projects and continuous improvement of products representing approximately €300 M in annual revenue.

Location:

ContiTech Fairlawn OH. Relocation within US possible. No international relocation

Tasks

Automation for Manufacturing Equipment Definition and Selection and Improvement:

• Serve as Business Area technical authority for new technologies investment, since rubber hot preparation, confection, curing, cutting, assembly, finishing equipment, etc, ensuring consistent standards and capability across all sites.

• Serve as core expert during end‑to‑end industrialization of new products from design definition through launch and stable serial production.

• Provide expert guidance on manufacturing equipment technologies, materials, and assembly processes, including escalation and problem‑solving support.

• Define and optimize equipment concepts, Automation, tooling, and layouts to meet safety, quality, cost, scalability, and capability targets.

• Support investment initiatives for capital asset selection to manufacture rubber products. Support plants with the cost saving calculation and investment pay back justification.

• Lead improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

• Support structured problem‑solving using Lean and Six Sigma tools (A3, 8D, DMAIC, SPC, MSA).

• Deploy and govern manufacturing best practices and technical standards to ensure consistency and long‑term equipment robustness, with global teams and under global hose manufacturing standards.

• Seek for newer technologies for hose manufacturing with a market perspective and global new trends. Check also existing CT group technologies as bench marking.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Support ME Leadership with reviewing post‑launch manufacturing performance to ensure stable serial production and compliance with industrialization standards.

• Support ME Leadership with monitoring of KPIs for equipment performance and efficiency and profitability gains.

• Identify and assess industrialization equipment risks and coordinate mitigation actions with plant teams.

• Analyze trends and deviations to prevent recurrence and drive proactive improvement.

Standardization & Trainings

• Drive implementation and adherence to global equipment standards across locations.

• Define, maintain, and deploy technical guidelines and best practices in alignment with sector and plant teams.

• Serve as subject matter expert for CS, PTS, DSS equipment industrialization, providing training, coaching, and technical support to engineers and plant teams.

• Support introduction of new technologies, materials, and processes through proper validation, documentation, and standardization.

Qualifications

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Bachelor's degree: in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Manufacturing, or a related engineering or science fields

• 5+ years of extensive experience in Manufacturing Engineering, with deep expertise in equipment Automation, robotics, vision systems, autonomous material handling equipment, remote control and supervisory system.

• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in rubber and plastic production processes and ramp‑up projects.

• Deep expertise in specifying and executing projects in automation, integration and supplier and automation vendors administration.

• 20 – 40 % travel availability

• Proficient in English is mandatory

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO STAND OUT

• Rubber and General Hose manufacturing, Belts technology, including mining belts, industry V belts, rubber air Spring manufacturability

• Production processes & equipment

• Core manufacturing processes (rubber preparation, extrusion, calendaring, curing, cutting, griding, winding up, confection of conveyor belts and similars, testing, inspection, packing, etc.)

• Product and process industrialization technologies, systems, standards, and infrastructure

• Industrial engineering fundamentals and methods

• Design and product manufacturing test processes

• Technical requirements definition to support purchasing process

• Problem‑solving and decision‑making tools (A3, 8D, DMAIC, SPC, MSA, etc.)

• Quality Core Tools (PFMEA, APQP, MSA, R&R, flowcharting, process control plans)

• Lean production / CBS principles, methods, and tools

  Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas now or in the future for this job posting.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [e-mail] or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non‑disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.