Manufacturing/Process Engineer

6 Degrees Search; Decorah (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

6 Degrees Search seeks a Manufacturing/Process Engineer in Decorah, IA to develop, maintain, and improve production processes. This role emphasizes process stability, continuous improvement, and capital project support, partnering with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to ensure safe, efficient, and repeatable manufacturing.

The position requires hands-on engineering experience, lean know-how, and involvement in capital initiatives to drive cost reductions and performance gains

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• 4–7 years of hands-on manufacturing or process engineering experience.
• Experience in lean manufacturing and capital projects.
• Strong ability to analyze and sustain manufacturing processes.
• Experience with process capability, cycle time, and scrap reduction.
• Hands-on with production teams and cross-functional work.

Responsibilities

• Monitor process performance and address issues in daily operations.
• Create and maintain work instructions, flows, and standard work.
• Analyze scrap, cycle time, downtime to find improvements.
• Implement changes to improve safety, quality, and throughput.
• Support process setup and trials for new products.
• Lead Lean/Six Sigma based improvement initiatives.
• Lead root cause analyses and preventive actions.
• Eliminate waste, reduce scrap, and cut costs.
• Lead kaizen events and track improvement metrics.
• Update docs and train operators on changes.
• Manage capital projects from equipment selection to startup.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Capital projects

Root cause analysis

Process capability

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on production

Data-driven improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or related field)

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing/Process Engineer

Location: Decorah, Iowa

Salary: $75-95K plus bonus

Job Summary of the Manufacturing/Process Engineer: The Manufacturing/Process Engineer will support the company's goals and vision by developing, maintaining, and improving production processes. This role focuses on process stability, continuous improvement, and capital project support while partnering with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to ensure efficient, safe, and repeatable manufacturing processes.

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Manufacturing/Process Engineer:

• Support daily manufacturing operations by monitoring process performance and responding to process issues.
• Develop, document, and maintain work instructions, process flows, routings, and standard work.
• Analyze production data (scrap, rework, cycle time, downtime) to identify process improvement opportunities.
• Implement process changes to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Support new product or process introductions by assisting with process setup, trials, and documentation.
• Drive and actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives by applying Lean, Six Sigma, and related methodologies.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts and implement corrective and preventive actions to address process issues.
• Proactively identify and eliminate waste, reduce scrap, minimize labor inefficiencies, and lower material costs.
• Champion kaizen events and consistently monitor improvement metrics and results.
• Sustain process improvements by updating documentation and conducting operator training sessions.
• Lead capital project initiatives by overseeing all phases, including equipment selection, justification, installation, and startup, to enhance operational capabilities and support business objectives.
• Develop and support capital requests by preparing ROI analyses and technical specifications that align with organizational goals and cost reduction strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration with vendors, Maintenance, and Operations teams to ensure seamless equipment installation and successful commissioning.
• Support process validation, capability studies, and acceptance testing for new or modified equipment to ensure compliance with quality, safety, and performance standards.
• Maintain and update documentation, standard work, and process instructions to reflect changes following capital project implementation, ensuring sustained improvements and knowledge transfer.
• Proactively support manufacturing processes by ensuring alignment with internal quality systems and customer requirements, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Take initiative in assisting with non-conformance investigations and implementing corrective actions to maintain high standards of product quality and compliance.
• Integrate safety, ergonomics, and risk mitigation strategies into process design and improvement efforts, fostering a safe and efficient work environment.
• Actively support internal audits and documentation reviews, contributing to sustained compliance and process reliability.
• Champion a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement throughout the shop floor to consistently achieve business objectives.

Education & Experience Requirements of the Manufacturing/Process Engineer:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or related field) required
• 4-7 years of hands-on manufacturing or process engineering experience in a production environment
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze, improve, and sustain manufacturing processes
• Experience in lean manufacturing.
• Experience with capital projects.
• Strong working knowledge of process capability, cycle time analysis, scrap reduction, and efficiency metrics
• Proven experience developing and maintaining detailed work instructions, standard work, and process documentation
• Experience supporting capital equipment installation, commissioning, and process validation activities
• Must enjoy being hands-on working with production teams
• Advanced problem-solving skills with practical application of root cause analysis methodologies
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing data
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain
• Ability to travel up to 15% to support the needs of the business.