Torque Tube Manufacturing Engineer — DFM/Industrialization Lead

Nextpower; Texas; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower in Texas seeks a Manufacturing Engineer – Torque Tubes to drive design for manufacturability, supplier readiness, and industrialization of steel torque tubes and their connections across the global supply base.

You will lead tube forming, welding, sizing, end forming, and coatings processes, partnering with R&D, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to ensure manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution with 10+ years in manufacturing engineering or industrialization of steel components.
• Experience in DFM/DFMA drives design releases and supplier readiness for production.
• Strong collaboration with R&D, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to deliver manufacturable products.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement using Lean Six Sigma methods.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication for cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Support launch and ramp-up of torque tube manufacturing lines at supplier sites; ensure safety, throughput, yield, and process capability.
• Provide DFM/DFMA input on tube profiles, wall thickness, material grades, seams, tolerances, and coatings.
• Review drawings, GD&T, and revisions; identify risks to straightness, weld integrity, and assembly alignment; propose solutions.
• Lead process development for coil handling, roll forming, welding, sizing, end forming, punching, and coating as applicable.
• Plan prototype builds, supplier trials, and production validations; verify dimensions, welds, and coating integrity; coordinate tests with Design and Quality.
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering across torque tube products while maintaining performance and safety.
• Define readiness deliverables: PFMEAs, control plans, work instructions, inspection methods, and traceability with Quality and suppliers.
• Conduct supplier readiness audits and capacity studies; drive corrective actions and confirm production readiness.
• Deploy process controls, in-line inspection, and Lean practices; use OEE, yield, and scrap data to prioritize improvements.

Skills

DFM/DFMA input

R&D/Design collaboration

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

English communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

PLM system

SPC

Job description

Nextpower in Texas seeks a Manufacturing Engineer – Torque Tubes to drive design for manufacturability, supplier readiness, and industrialization of steel torque tubes and their connections across the global supply base.

You will lead tube forming, welding, sizing, end forming, and coatings processes, partnering with R&D, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to ensure manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with customer requirements.