Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Socket.dev; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville seeks a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to apply advanced guitar-building and wood-manufacturing know-how to improve safety, efficiency, and quality across production lines. You will develop processes, fixtures, CNC programs, and automated solutions to transfer prototypes into production, while mentoring teams and documenting build criteria for historic and new products.

The ideal candidate has formal engineering studies, guitar-building experience, CAD/CAM

Qualifications

• Formal engineering studies; associate or bachelor’s preferred.
• Graduate of luthier program with guitar-building experience.
• CAD/CAM knowledge with 3+ years of hands-on practice.

Responsibilities

• Develop processes, fixtures, CNC programs, and automated solutions to transfer prototype product designs into production.
• Identify and implement improvement activities related to guitar manufacturing.
• Develop and document product specifications and build criteria for Historic and New product.
• Build prototypes and master parts for new products and product improvement.
• Troubleshoot and develop solutions for quality and production issues.
• Support maintenance and troubleshooting on CNC and other automated machinery.
• Develop documentation and provide operator training for CNC and automated machinery.
• Perform other tasks within their area of expertise, as required.

Skills

Guitar design understanding

CAD/CAM proficiency

CNC mills/routers experience

Plek station familiarity

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Formal Engineering Studies (Assoc/Bachelor)

Guitar building/Luthier program graduate

CAD/CAM knowledge (3 years)

Tools

Fusion 360

Mastercam

G-code reading

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will utilize their combined knowledge of guitar building, wood manufacturing, and best practices Engineering to improve safety, drive process, product, and quality improvements, reduce delivery time, and increase production capacity in the Gibson Custom Shop.

Essential Functions

The primary responsibilities will include:

• Develop processes, fixturing, CNC programs, and automated solutions to transfer prototype product designs into production.
• Identify and implement improvement activities related to guitar manufacturing.
• Develop and Document product specifications and build criteria for Historic and New product.
• Build prototypes and master parts for new products and product improvement.
• Troubleshoot and develop solutions for quality and production issues.
• Support maintenance and troubleshooting on CNC and other automated machinery
• Develop documentation and provide operator training for CNC and automated machinery.
• Perform other tasks within their area of expertise, as required.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Understanding of the musical, mathematical, and structural components of guitar design.
• Computer and CAD/CAM skills
• Familiar with CNC mills and routers, PLEK stations, and other automated equipment
• High level of self-motivation
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Solutions oriented approach to challenges/issues
• Outstanding time management skillset with the ability to prioritize without direct supervision
• Teamwork and project management skills combined with ability to work as part of a team

Required Education and Experience

• Formal Engineering Studies, at Associate or bachelor’s level (preferred).
• Graduate of Luthier Program and 5 years of guitar building experience.
• CAD/CAM knowledge (3 years)
  1. 3d Modeling experience
  2. Ability to read/write G-code
  3. Autodesk Fusion and/or Mastercam experience (preferred)
• CNC Mill and Router Experience (3 years)
  1. Fadal and Haas experience (preferred)
  2. 5-Axis experience (bonus)
• Project Management and Leadership experience desirable.
• CI Studies and experience desirable.
• Proficiency in MS word, excel and power point.

Essential Knowledge

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Project management skills combined with ability to work as part of a team

Personal Qualities

• Results oriented and driven, with a track record for delivering to plan
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Able to proactively question and challenge to prioritize and identify solutions in timely manner
• Clear and logical thinker
• Relish working in a company with a diverse and fast paced environment