Manufacturing Engineer III

TAPCO Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly Bonus Program

10 Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation and Personal Time

Paid Parental Leave

401K with Employer Match

Short-Term Disability

Health, Vision, and Dental insurance

Company Events and Lunches

Employee Committees

Job summary

TAPCO in Milwaukee seeks a Manufacturing Engineer III to lead strategic manufacturing improvements across operations. You will own projects, mentor engineers, and drive cost reductions while improving quality and efficiency.

Required are a Bachelor’s in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering and 8+ years in a manufacturing setting; CAD with SolidWorks is essential. Join a team focused on safety, ROI, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Industrial Engineering.
• 8+ years in a manufacturing engineering environment.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects.
• Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks) and process documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and reduce waste.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive ownership of projects.
• Drive cost savings and efficiency improvements with measurable ROI.
• Oversee DFMEA/PFMEA and design reviews to improve products.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Problem solving

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Cost reduction

Quality improvement

Team mentoring

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD tools

Job description

What TAPCO has to offer you

• Quarterly Bonus Program
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation and Personal Time (starting day one)
• Four Weeks of Paid Parental Leave with no waiting period
• 401K Plan with Employer Match (fully vested on day one)
• Company-Funded Short-Term Disability
• Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
• Quarterly Company Events and Lunches
• Have a say in TAPCO Happenings by joining the Fun or Safety Committee

What you will accomplish as a Manufacturing Engineer III at TAPCO

As a manufacturing Engineer III, you lead and own initiatives that drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, efficiency, and cost across manufacturing operations. This role combines technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, ensuring the successful delivery of impactful projects. The ideal candidate demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement, delivers tangible ROI on projects.

Leadership and Ownership:

• Lead cross-functional teams to implement process improvements, reduce waste, and enhance productivity.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and ownership.
• Drive the delivery of projects that result in measurable cost savings and operational efficiency gains.
• Lead PFMEAs. Contribute findings to Lessons Learned and design reviews to improve future designs.

Technical Expertise and Execution:

• Design and implement advanced manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment to optimize production workflows.
• Utilize CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) to develop and refine layouts, tooling, and prototypes. Heavy emphasis on utilizing CAD for models, layouts, and assemblies
• Lead Design for Manufacturability and product quality and able to investigate reduce costs.
• Create BOMs, engineering changes and deviations. Check the work of Engineers I-II and Designers.

Continuous Improvement:

• Own the execution of Lean initiatives, including Kaizen events, 5S implementation, and value stream mapping.
• Conduct root cause analyses to identify and implement corrective actions for production issues.
• Work closely with NPD to oversee new products and manufacturing readiness.

Strategic Impact:

• Analyze manufacturing data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend and implement projects that deliver tangible ROI, including cost reductions and efficiency improvements.
• Partner with procurement and suppliers to ensure high-quality, cost-effective components align with company standards.

Required Experience and Knowledge/ Skills/ Ability

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering environment.
• Proven success in leading projects that deliver measurable improvements in cost, quality, or efficiency.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong expertise in manufacturing processes (e.g., welding, metal fabrication, assembly, process documentation, hydraulics, power tools, electrical systems, PLC is a plus).
• Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks preferred)
• Knowledge of Lean methodologies, including DFMEA/PFMEA, Kaizen, and 5S.
• Excellent problem-solving and project management skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Familiar with business software's such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Strong understanding of different management systems and resource planning platforms.
• Skilled in managing and analyzing routings, applying overhead rates (e.g., machine vs. labor), and ensuring accurate cost modeling to drive financial accountability.
• Proficient in coordinating Bills of Materials (BOMs), managing work order posting phases, and implementing pick/backflush strategies aligned with production layouts for optimal efficiency.

About Us

At TAPCO, we aim to enhance transportation and personal safety in our communities through innovative solutions and products. We are driven to save lives! Are you looking for a career where you can earn a great wage based on experience and performance, your contributions are recognized, and you will have growth potential? Then choose TAPCO!

As an EEO Employer, including veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran or disability status or other acceptable taglines in all printed employment advertisements.