JOB DESCRIPTION: Manufacturing Engineer II

Department: Engineering

Supervisor: Engineering Manager

Base Location: State College, PA

FLSA Status: Regular, Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer II leads manufacturing improvement projects, supports production floor efficiency, improves ERP and manufacturing planning accuracy, and drives process improvements across departments. This position serves as a technical resource for production, planning, purchasing, parts sales, and engineering, with a focus on reducing labor, improving quality, and increasing throughput.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following; other duties may be assigned:

• Lead process improvement projects on the production floor.

• Develop, improve, and document manufacturing processes, equipment, software, and infrastructure.

• Review and improve routings, Current Operations, Item Planning Codes, and ERP/MRP data.

• Analyze labor costs, manufacturing efficiency, and production bottlenecks.

• Lead manufacturability reviews for parts, assemblies, and production processes.

• Support planning and purchasing as a trained backup/resource.

• Assist with vendor quotes, outsource supplier evaluations, and make/buy analysis.

• Support spare parts and kitted parts cost analysis and quoting.

• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action efforts related to manufacturing issues.

• Lead small capital equipment justification projects.

• Lead automation and digital process improvement projects such as barcode tracking, dashboards, digital forms, ERP workflow improvements, and production reporting tools.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve cost, quality, delivery, and efficiency.

• Mentor Manufacturing Engineer I personnel or interns when applicable.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in STEM, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, or equivalent experience.

• 3–7 years of manufacturing, production, planning, engineering, or related experience preferred.

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing planning data.

• Proficient in reading and interpreting engineering drawings.

• Experience with labor analysis, routing development, process documentation, and production support.

• Experience with vendor quoting, outsource support, or purchasing-related activities preferred.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret manufacturing data.

• Ability to lead cross-functional improvement projects.

• Ability to identify waste, bottlenecks, and process variation.

• Practical understanding of Lean, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

• Ability to support automation, reporting, and digital manufacturing improvements.

• Ability to work effectively with production, planning, purchasing, engineering, and sales.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times.

• Must be able to access all areas of the facility to observe processes and determine needs.

CAREER PROGRESSION EXPECTATIONS

To be considered for Manufacturing Engineer III, the employee should demonstrate:

• Successful leadership of multiple manufacturing improvement projects.

• Ability to improve labor efficiency, quality, delivery, or production flow with measurable results.

• Strong understanding of planning, purchasing, ERP/MRP, routings, and item planning data.

• Ability to serve as an effective backup/resource for planning and purchasing functions.

• Successful completion of at least one automation or digital process improvement project.

• Ability to lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

• Recognition as a manufacturing process resource across departments.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor others and lead without direct authority.