Manufacturing R&D Engineer

Vantedge Medical; Durham (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Hobson & Motzer, a division of Vantedge Medical, seeks a Manufacturing / R&D Engineer to lead PECM/ECF process development at its Wallingford and Durham facilities. You will drive continuous improvement, design tooling and fixtures, and manage cross-functional projects to improve quality, delivery, cost, and capacity in a regulated medical device environment.

The role requires strong engineering, project management, and problem-solving skills, with experience in PECM/ECF and GD&T.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of manufacturing, process development, or R&D experience.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing or other highly regulated industries preferred.
• Direct experience with PECM, ECF, or advanced precision manufacturing processes strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of GD&T, methods engineering, and fixture/tooling design.
• Strong project management and technical problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with strong initiative and follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development and continuous improvement projects involving Pulsed Electro-Chemical Machining (PECM), Electro-Chemical Finishing (ECF), and related manufacturing technologies.
• Develop, validate, and implement robust, cost-effective manufacturing processes that meet customer and business requirements.
• Manage engineering projects, including defining objectives, tracking progress, communicating status, and driving timely completion of action items.
• Investigate and resolve manufacturing challenges using scientific and data-driven problem-solving methodologies.
• Design and develop tooling, fixtures, work instructions, process documentation, and validation protocols.
• Support new product introductions and process transfers from development through production.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, R&D, Project Engineering, and Business Development teams to improve manufacturing performance and deploy new technologies.
• Research, evaluate, and implement emerging technologies aligned with company growth strategies.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate technical reviews and project meetings throughout the project lifecycle.
• Communicate with customers regarding technical matters, project updates, and manufacturing solutions as required.
• Ensure compliance with quality system requirements, regulatory standards, and company procedures.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts, including participation in the company idea system.
• Maintain a safe, organized work environment and comply with 6S, PPE, and safety requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Pulsed Electro-Chemical Machining

Electro-Chemical Finishing

GD&T

Fixture Design

Measurement Systems

CAPA & Problem Solving

Project Management

Regulatory Compliance

Root Cause Analysis

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Manufacturing R&D Engineer

Full-time | Permanent

Salaried | On-site

About Us

Hobson & Motzer, a Division of Vantedge Medical, is an organization that has a reputation for outstanding leadership, innovation and expertise. Our employees use their creativity and talent to invent new solutions, meet new demands and offer the most effective services in the industry.

Vantedge Medical is the premier metals-based med-tech solutions partner from concept to full-scale manufacturing. We are at the forefront of precision engineering and innovation, specializing in the development and manufacturing of vital components for medical markets such as Robotic Assisted Surgery, Orthopedics, Surgical Instruments, Dental, and more. Our teams work in unison, collaborating and problem-solving to serve the manufacturing needs of the top Medical Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) around the globe. Making a difference in the lives of patients and their families drives us to go above and beyond every day. With a steadfast commitment to advancing medical technology, we take immense pride in the work we do - and have a lot of fun doing it.

About The Role

We are seeking a results-driven Manufacturing / R&D Engineer to lead process development and continuous improvement initiatives at our Wallingford and Durham, CT facilities. This role requires expertise in Pulsed Electro-Chemical Machining (PECM) and Electro-Chemical Finishing (ECF), while supporting improvements across related manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will apply strong engineering, project management, and problem-solving skills to improve quality, delivery, cost, and capacity in a contract manufacturing environment. Responsibilities include process development, new product introduction, tooling and fixture design, root cause analysis, CAPA management, process validation, and documentation development. This position works closely with Operations, Quality, R&D, Business Development, and customers to optimize manufacturability and operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development and continuous improvement projects involving Pulsed Electro-Chemical Machining (PECM), Electro-Chemical Finishing (ECF), and related manufacturing technologies.
• Develop, validate, and implement robust, cost-effective manufacturing processes that meet customer and business requirements.
• Manage engineering projects, including defining objectives, tracking progress, communicating status, and driving timely completion of action items.
• Investigate and resolve manufacturing challenges using scientific and data-driven problem-solving methodologies.
• Design and develop tooling, fixtures, work instructions, process documentation, and validation protocols.
• Support new product introductions and process transfers from development through production.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, R&D, Project Engineering, and Business Development teams to improve manufacturing performance and deploy new technologies.
• Research, evaluate, and implement emerging technologies aligned with company growth strategies.
• Lead root cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate technical reviews and project meetings throughout the project lifecycle.
• Communicate with customers regarding technical matters, project updates, and manufacturing solutions as required.
• Ensure compliance with quality system requirements, regulatory standards, and company procedures.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts, including participation in the company idea system.
• Maintain a safe, organized work environment and comply with 6S, PPE, and safety requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of manufacturing, process development, or R&D engineering experience.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing or other highly regulated industries preferred.
• Direct experience with PECM, ECF, or advanced precision manufacturing processes strongly preferred.
• Experience with GD&T, methods engineering, and fixture/tooling design.
• Knowledge of measurement systems, gauging techniques, and calibration practices.
• Understanding process validation, documentation control, and quality systems.
• Strong project management and technical problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience in applying scientific methods, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement tools.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with strong initiative and follow-through.
• Detail-oriented with methodical work habits.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, and customer focus.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.