Operational Engineer

Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG; Greeneville (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG is seeking an Operational Engineer located in Greeneville, Tennessee. In this role, you will focus on process stability, automation ownership, and problem-solving to enhance manufacturing operations.

Your responsibilities include establishing standardized work, defining automation concepts, and ensuring safety compliance. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field, along with a strong operational mindset.

We offer competitive pay, disability insurance, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering or Mechatronics Manufacturing field.
• Strong understanding of PLC systems and automation.
• Operational mindset with hands-on, shop floor driven approach.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain standardized work for all equipment.
• Act as owner for process deviations and solve problems.
• Define automation concepts and ensure maintainability.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Mechatronics Manufacturing

Strong understanding of PLC systems

Automation and robotics

Electrical & mechanical troubleshooting

Vision systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Operational Engineer

We are a leading developer and manufacturer of mechanical and electronic locking systems as well as car access and authorization systems for the global automotive industry. Founded in 1908 in Velbert, Germany, we are an independent, family‑owned company with around 7,500 employees at locations in Europe, America and Asia and achieved sales of more than EUR 1.2 billion in the financial year 2023.

Your Role

Process stability and standardization (Foundation)

• Establish, implement, and sustain standardized work for all equipment and processes
• Define and maintain: Work instructions, Machine parameters, Process limits and reaction plans
• Ensure process repeatability and right‑first‑time capability
• Act as owner for process deviations → immediate root cause + countermeasure
• Be present at the line → solve problems where they occur
• Support operators / Hancho / Lead Hancho in:
  • Troubleshooting
  • Process clarification
  • Capability issues
• Identify and eliminate waste (Muda): Downtime, Cycle losses, Scrap / rework
• Lead and execute: Kaizen activities, Line optimization, Capacity improvements
• Drive Plan‑Do‑Check‑Act (PDCA) cycles with measurable results

Equipment & Automation Ownership

• Define, design, and implement robust automation concepts
• Ensure:
  • Right sizing (no overengineering)
  • Maintainability (easy to troubleshoot)
  • Standard components where possible
• Ownership of: PLC sequencing logic, Equipment functionality, Long‑term performance of machines

Cost & Performance Accountability

• Ensure equipment and processes meet:
  • Cycle time targets
  • Capacity requirements
  • Cost targets (Bill of Materials (BOM), components, solutions)
• Actively monitor and challenge:
  • Component selection
  • Supplier costs
  • Engineering solutions

Problem Solving

• Apply root cause problem solving (5 Why / Fishbone)
• Define permanent countermeasures (not quick fixes)
• Document and standardize learnings
• Prevent recurrence across lines (Yokoten mindset)

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all processes:
  • Meet safety standards
  • Follow legal and internal requirements
• Enforce safe behavior and safe machine design

Your Skills

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering or Mechatronics Manufacturing field or working towards Master’s degree in Engineering field
• Strong understanding of PLC systems, Automation and robotics, electrical & mechanical troubleshooting, and vision systems
• Experience in equipment validation and process capability & cycle time analysis
• Operational mindset with hands‑on, shop floor driven working style, strong ownership, and ability to simplify complexity, make fast, fact‑based decisions, and challenge inefficient processes

What we offer

• Strong operations‑driven environment with direct impact
• Opportunity to build and shape manufacturing excellence (Toyota Production System) based
• Competitive pay
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off

Huf celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Huf North America Automotive Parts Manufacturing, Corp.