Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

The Timken Company; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cone Drive Operations, a Timken company, located in Traverse City, Michigan, seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to develop and optimize encoder manufacturing processes that integrate mechanical assemblies, PCBs, magnets, and magnetization steps.

The role leads process development from prototype to production, designs fixtures, creates process docs and BOMs, and collaborates with R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure safe, high-quality, cost-effective production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3 to 5 years' manufacturing engineering experience with an emphasis in tool & fixture design.
• Good knowledge of product design and manufacturing processes.
• Proficient with basic computer skills, MS Office tools, Electronics, CAD.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Hands on mechanical assembly experience.
• Preferred - Experience working with PCB assembly processes, magnetic encoders, electronics packaging.
• Preferred - Experience with servo systems feedback, electric motors, automation & robotics.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the design team to develop and optimize mechanical designs for manufacturability.
• Lead process development, qualification, and transfer from prototype to production the encoder products.
• Specify and optimize assembly processes
• Design and implement production test strategies
• Design, specify and fabricate (internally or externally) workholding fixtures and tooling
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, including assembly instructions, process specifications, and bills of materials (BOM)
• Support new product introductions by ensuring manufacturing readiness
• Designs and fabricates prototype and production fixtures and tooling
• Oversees pre-production and prototype activity in-house and with partner plants; reviews and analyzes product performance data
• Partners with supply chain function to identify and develop component suppliers; validates supplier capabilities and ensures compliance with product and performance specifications
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance product quality and efficiency
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure quality and cost-effective production
• Provide technical support to resolve manufacturing issues and improve production processes
• Investigates and leads projects to improve safety, quality and productivity
• Other responsibilities would include, but would not be limited to, participating in Product Quality Planning activities and Six Sigma activities, and supporting other business priorities as directed by internal customers

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Tool & fixture design

Product design & manufacturability

MS Office

CAD

PCB assembly processes

Magnetic encoders

Servo systems & robotics

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

CAD

MS Office

Job description

Your career begins at Cone Drive Operations, a Timken company! Cone Drive is located in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan and boasts over 100 years of success in the gearing industry. If you're ready for a challenging career that provides you with the ability to advance personally and professionally, look to Cone Drive. Our associates make the world more productive by improving the efficiency and reliability of the machinery that keeps industry in motion.

The Timken Company sells some of the world's most sophisticated magnetic field encoders, which are part of the Cone Drive product family. This role sits within the Timken Encoders manufacturing engineering group and is responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing manufacturing processes, tooling, and test methods for encoder products that combine mechanical assemblies, PCBs, chips, magnets, and magnetization steps.

The Manufacturing Engineer leads process development, production readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives to deliver safe, high-quality, cost-effective production. This role will partner closely with R&D, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain to support product creation and launch activities. This role requires a strong commitment to safety, continuous improvement, and effective project management.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the design team to develop and optimize mechanical designs for manufacturability
• Lead process development, qualification, and transfer from prototype to production the encoder products.
• Specify and optimize assembly processes
• Design and implement production test strategies
• Design, specify and fabricate (internally or externally) workholding fixtures and tooling
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation, including assembly instructions, process specifications, and bills of materials (BOM)
• Support new product introductions by ensuring manufacturing readiness
• Designs and fabricates prototype and production fixtures and tooling
• Oversees pre-production and prototype activity in-house and with partner plants; reviews and analyzes product performance data
• Partners with supply chain function to identify and develop component suppliers; validates supplier capabilities and ensures compliance with product and performance specifications
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance product quality and efficiency
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure quality and cost-effective production
• Provide technical support to resolve manufacturing issues and improve production processes
• Investigates and leads projects to improve safety, quality and productivity
• Other responsibilities would include, but would not be limited to, participating in Product Quality Planning activities and Six Sigma activities, and supporting other business priorities as directed by internal customers

Requirements And Preferred Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field
• 3 to 5 years' manufacturing engineering experience with an emphasis in tool & fixture design
• Good knowledge of product design and manufacturing processes
• Proficient with basic computer skills, MS Office tools, Electronics, CAD
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Hands on mechanical assembly experience
• Preferred - Experience working with PCB assembly processes, magnetic encoders, electronics packaging
• Preferred - Experience with servo systems feedback, electric motors, automation & robotics

This position may require access to United States export controlled technical data (“CTD”) and hardware under the Departments of US State (ITAR) and/or Commerce (EAR). Eligible candidates are; US Citizens, Green Card holders, Asylees or others eligible to receive US export license authorizations. Candidate must be authorized to work in the US.

All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.