Manufacturing Engineer

Summary:   

At Abrasive Form, we power and protect the planet. Abrasive Form is a world leader in high precision Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine (IGT) machining. We manufacture turbine blades and vanes for many of the largest gas turbine manufactures and militaries around the world. We use high precision CNC milling, electrical discharge machining (EDM), and 3 and 5-axis creep feed and CBN grinding. 

The Manufacturing Engineer reports directly to the Director of Engineering and supports the operational needs in a nonunion aerospace facility, which will flex between two facilities in Bloomingdale and Glendale Heights, IL.   The position has critical areas of responsibility for executing and coordinating manufacturing processes to support operational excellence.  This role partners with cross-functional departments to deliver against key performance metrics across safety, quality, and throughput while communicating engineering status, issues, and improvements.  

The successful candidate is energetic, and success driven with technical expertise. They will have exemplary problem solving, continuous improvement and time management skills and serve as a role model and leader to peers.

Requirements

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Resolves engineering issues to support operations.
• Participates and leads problem solving teams.
• Improve processes to drive throughput and velocity.
• Conducts process development including machining parameters, and all related documentation using Creep feed grinding, milling, EDM (sinker, wire and fast hole drilling), and Huffman 5 axis grinding machines.  Delivers to Operations a solid production process and continually monitors for improvements.
• Conducts grinding wheel tests to improve wheel performance and throughput.  
• Understand all machining including creep feed grinding, milling, EDM (sinker, wire and fast hole drilling) and 5 axis grinding.
• Support operators in achievement of daily throughput goals, identification of constraints and opportunities for improvement and assist in operator training.
• Design and coordinate the re-building or redesigning of existing production fixtures and tools and oversees their implementation into production.
• Review processes for new tooling and analyzes existing tooling for improvement
• Prepare and update key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive execution of results.
• Other duties as assigned.   

Qualifications and Education Required 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is required. 

• Working knowledge in SolidWorks, AutoCad, MasterCam and Vericut a plus
• Experience with continuous improvement activities resulting in increased throughput and profitability.

• Must be able to measure parts within tight tolerances. Must be able to read indicators and use measuring tools such as caliper, micrometer, gauges.
• Ability to identify complex problems, evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to read directions, prints, schematics and to inspect machined parts closely.

• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization, including senior leadership.
• Must be able to use a computer, Microsoft Office and programs.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Working experience with turbine blade/vane manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• 5S standards experience preferred.
• Prior experience working in aerospace manufacturing industry.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.

Physical Demands

Talking, hearing and using hands to operate machining equipment.   Ability to lift and carry at least 25lbs frequently and on occasion up to 50lbs.  Must be able to work on your feet in a manufacturing environment.  Physical ability to do work requiring frequent lifting, twisting, standing, stooping and bending.  Visual acuity (corrected) to read directions and prints and to inspect machined parts closely to ensure that they meet specifications.

Working Environment

Usual manufacturing environment with temperature fluctuations, noise from and interactions with equipment, and safety standards of PPE and practices required.

The job description listed should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an associate in this job.  Associates are required to perform other related functions as assigned.

We are an equal opportunity employer.   Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. To conform to U.S. export control regulations, applicant should be eligible for any required authorizations from the U.S. Government.