Manufacturing Engineer, Supply Chain

True Manufacturing; O’Fallon (MO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

True Manufacturing is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer, Supply Chain to bridge manufacturing operations and the supplier base. You will own make-vs-buy strategy, supplier development, DFM, and PPAP, while coordinating with R&D, Purchasing, and Quality.

This senior role emphasizes procurement engineering, ERP/MRP, and cross‑functional leadership, with up to one remote day per week and strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Research or similar.
• Five+ years in manufacturing engineering, supplier development, supplier quality, or procurement engineering.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and component fabrication methods.
• Experience with APQP/PPAP, GD&T, PPAP, and SPC.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 change processes and regulatory standards.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks/AutoCAD and ERP/MRP/PLM/QMS platforms; Power BI/Tableau; advanced Excel.
• Certifications like APICS CPIM/CSCP, CQE, Six Sigma, or PMP.
• Experience with cross-border supplier management and international logistics.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead make-vs-buy analyses and develop commodity/tech roadmaps for integration vs. outsourcing.
• Assess supplier capability, drive DFM, and improve quality, cost, and delivery performance.
• Own APQP/PPAP, supplier audits, scorecards, and 8D/5-Why problem solving.
• Author engineering changes and ensure cross-functional coordination.
• Support RFQs, cost analysis, and negotiations with Purchasing; qualify alternate sources.
• Ensure NSF/UL/ROHS and other regulatory compliance across components.
• Optimize material flow, inventory, and lead times; manage supplier risk programs.
• Collaborate to align component strategy with NPI and production plans.

Skills

Make-vs-buy analysis

Supplier development

APQP/PPAP

DFM

Regulatory compliance

RFQ cost analysis

Sourcing

NSF/UL/ROHS compliance

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

ERP/MRP

QMS

Power BI/Tableau

Excel (advanced)

GD&T

SPC

ISO 9001

APICS CPIM/CSCP

CQE

Six Sigma

PMP

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering; Supply Chain Management; Operations Research

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

ERP/MRP

PLM

QMS

Power BI

Tableau

Excel (advanced)

Job description

The Manufacturing Engineer, Supply Chain is a senior individual-contributor role that serves as the technical bridge between True's manufacturing operations and its supply base. Reporting to the Production Engineering Manager, this engineer owns make-vs-buy strategy, supplier development and qualification, component and material regulatory compliance, and procurement/sourcing engineering for the parts and materials consumed in True products. For approximately the first five years the role primarily supports the Monterrey (TMM) factory production expansions, with limited support to TMC on shared commodities. The role requires knowledge of what True manufactures and how — including where the business specializes internally and where it relies on external partners — combined with strong supply chain, procurement, and regulatory expertise. It partners daily across Manufacturing Engineering, R&D, Purchasing, Production Control, and Quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead structured make-versus-buy analyses and develop commodity and technology roadmaps that define where True vertically integrates versus sources externally.
• Assess and build supplier capability, capacity, and process capability; own the supplier-side Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) process and drive quality, cost, and delivery performance.
• Own Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), along with supplier audits, scorecards, and structured root-cause / corrective action (8D, 5-Why, etc.) for nonconforming material.
• Author and manage engineering changes, ensuring component and process changes are documented, validated, and coordinated across affected departments and suppliers.
• Procurement & sourcing engineering: Support requests for quote (RFQs), cost engineering / should-cost analysis, and supplier negotiations in partnership with Purchasing; qualify alternate and second sources.
• Ensure components and materials meet NSF, UL, NOM, ROHS, EU, ect. and maintain compliance traceability and documentation.
• Optimize material flow, inventory, and lead time; run supplier diagnostic and risk programs to protect supply continuity across TMM and TMC.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, R&D, Purchasing, Production Control, and Quality to align component strategy with New Product Introduction (NPI) and production plans.
• Author technical documentation, supplier requirements, and design-review inputs; deliver dashboards and executive-ready reporting on supplier and component performance.
• The Manufacturing Engineer, Supply Chain is an office-based role. Regular, predictable on-site attendance is required. Eligibility for up to one (1) remote workday per week may be permitted, subject to business needs and departmental guidelines.
• Perform core job responsibilities through regular in-person collaboration, including participation in meetings, team discussions, and cross-functional coordination.
• Collaborate with fellow team members and leadership in a shared work environment to support innovation and timely decision-making, problem-solving, and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain a consistent on-site presence to support and respond to day-to-day business needs, including attendance of scheduled meetings and real-time collaboration as needed to ensure alignment of department and company priorities.
• Meet regularly with manager in-person to align on workload, priorities, performance, and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Research or similar field required.
• Five or more years’ experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier development, supplier quality, or procurement engineering (senior-level scope).
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes and component fabrication methods, including extrusion, injection molding, draw forming, welding, sheet metal fabrication, riveting, packaging, polyurethane foaming, and painting/finishing.
• Make-versus-buy analysis, supplier development, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and structured problem-solving.
• Working knowledge of engineering change processes (True PCN) and controlled change/documentation processes as outlined and required by ISO 9001.
• Working knowledge of NSF/ANSI food-equipment standards and U.S. FDA 21 CFR food-contact material rules; exposure to EU/international requirements a strong plus.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks and AutoCAD, along with Enterprise Resource Planning / Material Requirements Planning (ERP/MRP), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), and Quality Management System (QMS) platforms; Power BI or Tableau; and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• APICS CPIM/CSCP, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt), or PMP certification.
• Experience in commercial refrigeration, food-service equipment, or appliance manufacturing.
• Experience managing international suppliers and cross-border logistics.
• Familiarity with vertical-integration and in-house component development initiatives.
• Bilingual capabilities strongly preferred (English/Spanish).
• Ability to work individually or in teams.
• Ability to lead people, obtain commitment from others, and achieve results through others.
• Ability to be assertive and diplomatic when interacting with co-workers.
• Display a positive attitude and support the direction and policies of the Company.
• Strong time management skills including multitasking, prioritization, forward planning, and adherence to deadlines.
• Strong mechanical aptitude.
• Problem solving skills and mindset.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (10%-20%).

The hours for this position are 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Company-paid background check required upon hire.