Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Top Prospect Group; Wallingford (CT); On-site; USD 101,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Prospect Group is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve manufacturing operations across filling, kitting, packaging, and shipping. This hands-on role focuses on optimization, automation, Lean Six Sigma, and capital projects to boost throughput and reduce waste.

You will partner with production teams and cross-functional leadership to implement an automation strategy, including robotics, vision systems, PLCs, COBOTs, and digital manufacturing technologies, driving

Qualifications

• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering or automation
• Strong manufacturing process-improvement background
• Experience implementing automation in manufacturing
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma background
• Experience with time studies, line balancing, capacity analysis
• Experience managing automation projects
• Hands-on with manufacturing operations

Responsibilities

• Identify process challenges on the floor and drive improvements
• Eliminate waste and balance workloads
• Lead automation projects end-to-end
• Develop and execute automation strategies
• Implement robotics, vision systems, PLCs
• Collaborate with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and R&D

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Automation Engineering

Problem Solving

Cross-functional Collaboration

Data Analytics

Project Management

Mech & Electrical Aptitude

Tools

Robotics

PLCs

Vision Systems

COBOTs

MES

Smart Factory Tech

Job description

Salary: $100,800–$165,600, based on experience

Schedule: Full-Time, Onsite

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve manufacturing operations across filling, kitting, packaging, and shipping.

This is a highly visible, hands-on engineering position focused on manufacturing optimization, automation, Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, and capital equipment projects. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will work directly with production teams and cross-functional leadership to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, increase throughput, and improve overall manufacturing performance.

This position will also play a key role in developing and implementing an automation strategy, including robotics, vision systems, PLCs, collaborative robots (COBOTs), and digital manufacturing technologies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor, working directly with production employees and leadership to identify process challenges and improvement opportunities
• Identify and eliminate waste, bottlenecks, workload imbalances, unnecessary movement, rework, waiting, and inefficient handoffs
• Investigate manufacturing inefficiencies and develop solutions to improve productivity, quality, throughput, and labor efficiency
• Conduct time studies, standard labor analysis, line balancing, workload analysis, capacity analysis, process mapping, and material-flow assessments
• Develop and execute manufacturing automation strategies aligned with business objectives
• Lead automation projects through planning, design, equipment selection, build, implementation, and deployment
• Implement advanced automation technologies including robotics, vision systems, PLCs, and collaborative robots (COBOTs)
• Lead manufacturing process optimization utilizing Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement, data analytics, and digital manufacturing tools
• Drive measurable improvements in on-time delivery, cycle time, yield, throughput, and labor efficiency
• Own capital automation projects from concept through commissioning
• Develop business cases and equipment specifications for capital projects
• Manage vendor selection and coordinate equipment FAT/SAT
• Support and lead equipment validation activities including IQ/OQ/PQ
• Partner with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and R&D teams to industrialize new products and scale manufacturing processes
• Establish and standardize engineering best practices, automation standards, validation protocols, and documentation
• Support digital transformation initiatives involving MES, manufacturing data systems, and smart-factory technologies
• Troubleshoot manufacturing equipment, automation systems, and processes as needed

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering and/or automation engineering experience
• Strong manufacturing process-improvement background
• Experience implementing automation within a manufacturing environment
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience with manufacturing process analysis, time studies, line balancing, capacity analysis, and workflow optimization
• Experience managing manufacturing or automation projects from concept through implementation
• Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing equipment and automated systems
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and other departments
• Strong hands-on approach with the ability to spend significant time directly within manufacturing operations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with robotics, PLCs, vision systems, and COBOTs
• Experience with FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ, and PQ
• Experience with manufacturing automation architecture and equipment integration
• Knowledge of MES and digital manufacturing systems
• Experience with smart-factory or Industry 4.0 initiatives
• Experience with Minitab, JMP, Smartsheet, and Microsoft Office
• Experience working within a medical device, life sciences, pharmaceutical, laboratory, or regulated manufacturing environment