Manufacturing Process Development Engineer

Kelly Services; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Manufacturing Process Development Engineer in Auburn Hills, MI for a direct-hire opportunity with a global automotive component manufacturer.

You will develop manufacturing strategies for new programs, define process flows, and specify equipment and automation, ensuring efficient, repeatable, cost-effective processes ready for production.

Qualifications

• Degree in manufacturing/engineering plus strong craft in process development.
• 5+ years in manufacturing or process engineering, with automated assembly.
• Experience defining processes for complex assemblies and cost estimates.

Responsibilities

• Support programs from quotation through equipment implementation and production handoff.
• Develop end-to-end process flows, including assembly, testing, and material handling.
• Estimate cycle times, labor, tooling, and production costs during quoting.
• Define specs for automation equipment, fixtures, and testing.
• Develop processes for plastic and metallic assemblies with content like springs and connectors.
• Apply automation concepts: robotics, pick-and-place, inspection, error-proofing.
• Collaborate with equipment integrators, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Establish process controls, quality checks, and validation plans.
• Support trials, validation, ramp-up, and process refinement.
• Travel to sites as needed, domestic and international.

Skills

Process development

Project ownership

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, Automation or related engineering

Tools

Robotics

Automation equipment

End-of-line testing

Job description

Kelly® Engineering is seeking a Manufacturing Process Development Engineer for a direct-hire position with a global automotive component manufacturer in Auburn Hills, MI.

Overview

Our client is a global automotive supplier that manufactures injection-molded components and is expanding into higher-value products incorporating secondary operations, automated assembly, functional testing, and integrated plastic, metallic, mechanical, and electronic content.

This position will develop the manufacturing strategy for new programs from quotation through production launch. The engineer will define complete process flows, establish equipment and automation requirements, coordinate with equipment suppliers, and ensure new assembly processes are efficient, repeatable, cost-effective, and production-ready.

Responsibilities

• Support new programs from quotation through equipment implementation, validation, launch, and production handoff.
• Develop end-to-end process flows covering component receipt, secondary operations, automated assembly, testing, material movement, and finished-product delivery.
• Evaluate manufacturing concepts during quoting by estimating process steps, cycle times, labor, capacity, tooling, equipment, and production costs.
• Define specifications for automated assembly equipment, workstations, fixtures, material-handling systems, process controls, and end-of-line testing.
• Develop processes for assemblies incorporating plastic and metallic parts, springs, gaskets, inserts, connectors, wiring, and other mechanical or electronic content.
• Apply automation concepts such as robotic handling, pick-and-place, component insertion, error-proofing, inspection, and functional testing.
• Partner with equipment integrators and suppliers to review concepts, resolve technical issues, confirm requirements, and support equipment acceptance and installation.
• Establish process controls, quality checks, functionality tests, and validation plans.
• Collaborate with product engineering, operations, quality, maintenance, purchasing, program management, and suppliers.
• Support equipment trials, process validation, production ramp-up, and process refinement.
• Travel to manufacturing and supplier sites as needed, including possible domestic and international travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, Automation, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Approximately five or more years of manufacturing or process engineering experience involving automated assembly, secondary operations, equipment development, or new-product launches.
• Experience defining complete manufacturing processes for complex, multicomponent products or assemblies.
• Ability to translate product requirements into process concepts, equipment specifications, cycle-time assumptions, and manufacturing cost estimates.
• Knowledge of automated assembly, robotics, pick-and-place equipment, fixtures, sensors, inspection, error-proofing, and end-of-line testing. Direct robot or PLC programming is not required.
• Experience working with automation integrators, machine builders, tooling suppliers, or manufacturing-equipment vendors.
• Strong project ownership, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Automotive manufacturing experience—particularly involving HVAC, powertrain, transmission, interior, under-hood, or electromechanical assemblies is preferred.
• Experience integrating plastic, metallic, mechanical, electrical, or electronic components through automated assembly operations is preferred.
• Familiarity with injection molding and automotive launch or quality tools such as APQP, PFMEA, control plans, capability studies, and production validation is beneficial.

What happens next

Once you apply, you’ll proceed to next steps if your skills and experience look like a good fit. Even if this position is not the right match, you’ll remain in the Kelly Engineering network, giving our team of engineering recruiters access to your profile for future opportunities.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly ® Engineering?

Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting-edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short-term projects or are looking for a long-term opportunity, we’re here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en).

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.