Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Socket.dev; Union (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer to serve as the team's senior technical problem solver for manufacturing equipment and production systems in a fast-paced food-manufacturing environment.

You will translate operational needs into practical engineered solutions, perform analyses, CAD work (AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor), equipment spec‑ing, testing and commissioning, and own projects from concept to handoff while collaborating across Operations, Maintenance, and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering or closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing, equipment, mechanical-design, or process-engineering experience.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and 3D CAD, ability to independently create layouts, components, fixtures, and fabrication drawings; Autodesk Inventor strongly preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on troubleshooting ability in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing specifications, reviewing vendor designs, and providing technical direction during fabrication, installation, or equipment modification.

Responsibilities

• Translate operational needs into practical engineered solutions through analysis, CAD, equipment testing, and commissioning.
• Own manufacturing-equipment or process-improvement projects from conception through installation and handoff.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Food Safety & Quality, R&D, and Safety to understand needs and execute designs.
• Maintain drawings, specifications, calculations, risk assessments, commissioning records, and training materials.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Troubleshooting

Project ownership

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Autodesk Inventor

Job description

Description

The Sr. Manufacturing Engineer is the team's senior technical problem solver for manufacturing equipment and production systems. The role converts operational needs into practical engineered solutions through analysis, concept development, mechanical design, CAD, equipment specification, testing, and commissioning in a fast-paced food-manufacturing environment.

Success requires an engineer who can move comfortably between the production floor, a CAD workstation, and technical vendor discussions—and who takes ownership of solution quality, safe execution, and sustained operational results.

Requirements

• Engineering solution development. Investigate manufacturing problems, define technical requirements, develop and compare concepts, perform appropriate calculations and risk reviews, and recommend practical engineered solutions.
• Manufacturing improvement. Analyze production constraints, reliability, quality, safety, ergonomics, and labor needs; implement practical improvements with measurable results.
• Mechanical and CAD design. Create and modify plant layouts, equipment components, fixtures, change parts, guarding, platforms, and fabrication drawings using AutoCAD and 3D CAD, preferably Autodesk Inventor.
• Broader plant projects. Apply the same engineering approach to packaging systems or facility and infrastructure improvements when project needs and individual experience align.
• Equipment and vendor engineering. Develop technical requirements, evaluate proposed solutions, review drawings, recommend equipment and suppliers, and provide technical direction to vendors, contractors, and integrators.
• Commissioning and troubleshooting. Plan and execute trials, FAT, SAT, installation checkout, ramp-up, and performance verification; resolve mechanical, process, packaging, and equipment issues through root-cause analysis.
• Technical collaboration. Work directly with Operations, Maintenance, Food Safety & Quality, R&D, and Safety to understand needs, communicate designs, and execute solutions.
• Documentation and handoff. Maintain drawings, specifications, calculations, risk assessments, commissioning records, training materials, and project closeout documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing, equipment, mechanical-design, or process-engineering experience; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated ownership of manufacturing-equipment or process-improvement projects through installation, commissioning, and operational handoff.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and working proficiency with 3D mechanical CAD, with the ability to independently create layouts, components, fixtures, guarding, and fabrication drawings; Autodesk Inventor is strongly preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on troubleshooting ability in an operating manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing specifications, reviewing vendor designs, and providing technical direction during fabrication, installation, or equipment modification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience with packaging equipment or line automation, including conveyors, cartoners, filling systems, robotics, vision systems, or checkweighers.
• Alternatively, experience with facilities and plant infrastructure such as wastewater, utilities, energy or fuel-cell systems, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, drainage, or structural modifications.
• Familiarity with hygienic design, machine safety, and PLC-controlled industrial equipment.
• PE, Lean/Six Sigma, or machine-safety certification is beneficial but not required.

Work Environment

The position works in both office and active manufacturing environments. It requires regular time on the production floor and may require work outside normal hours during installations, shutdowns, trials, commissioning, or urgent technical support. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.