Staff Manufacturing Engineer: Scale-Up & Equipment Lead

Vulcan Elements Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements Inc. is seeking a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to drive the full lifecycle expansion of a 1 million square foot facility. You will own heavy production processes from design through startup, oversee vendor selection, and push process optimization.

You will lead safety, quality, and maintenance programs while working with R&D on future lines. Ideal candidates have a strong background in heavy industry equipment, PFMEA/Control Plans, and CAD proficiency for complex assemblies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or related field with 7+ years of experience or Master's with 5+ years of experience.
• Hands-on CAD proficiency creating, modifying, and validating complex equipment assemblies.
• Proven track record in heavy custom equipment design, vendor management, and full-cycle commissioning for thermal or raw material processing.
• Ability to read, interpret, and create electrical schematics and pneumatic diagrams, including core engineering calculations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Equipment & Vendor Selection with technical and financial comparisons to meet scaling, quality, and budget goals.
• Own End-to-End Process Ownership from equipment design to production qualification for heavy production processes.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, monitor OEE results, and drive yield improvements.
• Manage technical schedules, budgets, and deliverables aligned with milestones and customer commitments.
• Provide hands-on startup support to stabilize processes and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with R&D to develop new processes and equipment strategies for future production lines.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all activities.
• Travel (<25%) to support reviews and FATs as needed.

Skills

CAD Proficiency

Equipment Design & Commissioning

Documentation Mastery

Technical Literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or related technical discipline

Master's degree in related field

Job description

Vulcan Elements Inc. is seeking a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to drive the full lifecycle expansion of a 1 million square foot facility. You will own heavy production processes from design through startup, oversee vendor selection, and push process optimization.

You will lead safety, quality, and maintenance programs while working with R&D on future lines. Ideal candidates have a strong background in heavy industry equipment, PFMEA/Control Plans, and CAD proficiency for complex assemblies.