Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Sterling Engineering; Racine (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage after 30d

401(k) with company match

PTO & paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Voluntary disability & life insurance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Sterling Engineering in Caledonia, WI, seeks a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to lead hands-on process development, continuous improvement, and mentoring while preparing to assume engineering leadership. This role focuses on manufacturing engineering, process development, and improvement initiatives.

You will own die casting, cable assembly, crimping, soldering and related operations, partnering with Operations, Quality, and Sales to boost efficiency, reduce scrap, and ensure on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Materials, Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of manufacturing or process engineering experience in hands-on environments.
• Strong background in process development, troubleshooting and continuous improvement.
• Experience improving production efficiency, reducing scrap, optimizing processes or increasing throughput.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on manufacturing engineering initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and process reliability.
• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes, procedures, and work instructions.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues with operators/technicians and implement practical solutions.
• Support die casting, cable assembly, crimping, soldering and related operations.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring engineers

Process development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

ERP systems

Job description

Overview: Sterling Engineering is partnering with an established manufacturer serving the automotive, industrial, and utility markets to hire a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with the potential to transition into an engineering leadership role. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced, hands‑on manufacturing engineer who enjoys solving production challenges, improving processes, and mentoring others but may not have held a formal management title. The selected candidate will initially focus on manufacturing engineering, process development, and continuous improvement while gaining exposure to broader engineering responsibilities and preparing to take on a leadership role.

Location: Caledonia, WI 53402

Salary Range: $120,000–$130,000 base salary + annual bonus

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Benefits: Medical and dental coverage available after 30 days, 401(k) with company match, PTO, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, voluntary disability and supplemental life insurance, and professional development opportunities.

Job Duties

• Lead hands‑on manufacturing engineering initiatives focused on improving production efficiency, quality, and process reliability.
• Develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes, procedures, and work instructions.
• Work directly with production operators and technicians to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and implement practical solutions.
• Support manufacturing processes including die casting, cable assembly, crimping, soldering, and related operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve first‑time yield, reduce scrap, increase throughput, and improve overall manufacturing performance.
• Apply Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies to drive measurable results.
• Support new product introductions, manufacturing process development, and production readiness.
• Collaborate with Operations, Production, Quality, and Sales to resolve technical challenges and support business objectives.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers while developing leadership skills.
• Coordinate engineering projects from concept through implementation, ensuring quality, cost, and timeline objectives are met.
• Support design and drafting activities using SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Maintain engineering documentation, drawing revisions, and engineering changes through ECO/ECN processes.
• Maintain accurate ERP data, including bills of material, routings, item records, and manufacturing standards.
• Gradually assume additional responsibilities related to engineering team coordination, project prioritization, and technical leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Materials, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of manufacturing or process engineering experience in a hands‑on manufacturing environment.
• Strong background in manufacturing process development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success improving production efficiency, reducing scrap, optimizing processes, or increasing throughput.
• Comfortable working directly on the production floor with operators, technicians, and manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with die casting, cable assembly, crimping, soldering, or similar manufacturing processes preferred.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with SolidWorks and AutoCAD preferred.
• Familiarity with engineering change processes, manufacturing documentation, BOMs, routings, and ERP systems.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Interest in transitioning into an engineering leadership or management role.
• Previous experience mentoring engineers, leading technical projects, or serving as a technical lead is preferred but not required.
• Ability to balance hands‑on technical responsibilities with long‑term engineering and operational goals.