Manufacturing Engineer (Fabrication Focus)

KUHN Group; Brodhead (WI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

KUHN Group in Wisconsin seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to develop, optimize, and sustain metal fabrication processes for agricultural equipment, including cutting, forming, and welding. You will lead improvements in throughput, quality, and tooling design to support both new and existing product lines.

Responsibilities include DFm collaboration, CNC programming support, time studies, capital project support, root-cause analysis, safety and regulatory compliance, and mentoring technicians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 5+ years in heavy industry.
• Strong knowledge of steel fabrication, welding, machining, or paint finishing.
• 3-D CAD experience, Creo/Pro-E preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fabrication processes for structural steel and sheet metal.
• Design and improve jigs, fixtures, and tooling for welding and cutting.
• Drive lean improvements to reduce cycle time, scrap, and rework.
• Collaborate on design for manufacturability of fabricated parts.
• Program or support CNC plasma/laser cutters, press brakes, and robotic welding.
• Perform time studies, capacity analyses, and workflow assessments.
• Support capital equipment projects including layout and installation.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor fabrication technicians and operators.

Skills

Fabrication process design

Lean manufacturing

Design for manufacturability

CNC programming support

Time studies

Capital equipment

Root cause analysis

Safety and regulatory compliance

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Creo/Pro-E

Job description

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for the development, optimization, and sustainability of metal fabrication processes, including cutting, forming, and welding, to ensure efficient and high-quality production of agricultural equipment. This role is responsible for driving improvements in fabrication throughput, quality, and tooling design, while supporting both new and existing product lines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, document, and optimize fabrication processes for structural steel and sheet metal components used in agricultural equipment (spreaders, mowers, mergers, etc.).
• Design and improve jigs, fixtures, and tooling to ensure consistency, repeatability, and ergonomic safety in welding, plasma/laser cutting, bending, and forming.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean tools to reduce cycle time, scrap, and rework in fabrication operations.
• Collaborate with product engineering on design for manufacturability (DFM), particularly for fabricated parts.
• Program or support programming of CNC plasma/laser cutters, press brakes, and repeatable parts for robotic welding cells.
• Conduct time studies, capacity analyses, and workflow assessments to support production planning and equipment utilization.
• Support the implementation of capital equipment projects, including machine selection, layout, and installation.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions related to fabrication quality or equipment issues.
• Ensure fabrication processes meet applicable safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Mentor and provide technical support to fabrication technicians and operators.

Education and/or Experience –

A bachelor’s degree in agricultural, manufacturing, mechanical, or industrial engineering and five or more years engineering experience in a heavy industrial environment is required. Strong technical competency in steel fabrication, welding, machining, or paint finishing and thorough knowledge of manufacturing and quality processes is also required.3-D CAD experience is required (Pro-E Creo is preferred).