Mechanical Engineer 2

Cullerton Group has a new opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer 2 in Sanford, NC. The position is 100% onsite in a manufacturing environment and is expected to last 12 months, with the potential to lead to permanent employment with our client. The schedule is first shift, Monday–Thursday from 6:00 AM–4:30 PM, with Friday overtime as business needs require. Compensation is up to $37/hr full benefits (vision, dental, health insurance, 401k, and holiday pay).

Job Summary

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support manufacturing engineering, continuous improvement, New Product Introduction (NPI), and production process optimization within a high-volume manufacturing environment. This role will identify and implement equipment, tooling, process, and facility improvements designed to increase manufacturing efficiency, quality, capacity, and equipment reliability. The engineer will work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Safety, and other technical teams to troubleshoot production issues, evaluate equipment needs, develop assembly processes, and support capital projects. This is a hands-on position that combines engineering analysis and project work with direct support on the manufacturing floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives involving manufacturing equipment, tooling, processes, workflow, and facility utilization.
• Analyze manufacturing requirements and recommend improvements to equipment, processes, training, facility systems, and product designs.
• Evaluate engineering projects, conduct feasibility studies, develop project plans, and assess expected operational benefits.
• Develop specifications and support the selection, acquisition, installation, and validation of new or replacement assembly tools and manufacturing equipment.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), capacity increases, equipment replacement, and process-improvement projects, including capital forecasting and reporting.
• Troubleshoot equipment and manufacturing process issues, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and implement standardized assembly and manufacturing processes.
• Improve utilization of manufacturing and office space while optimizing workload distribution across production areas.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Logistics, Safety, Production Planning, and technical teams to support production objectives.
• Document equipment/process validation results, engineering recommendations, corrective actions, and process improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• 2–4 years of relevant engineering experience; internship experience can be considered toward the experience requirement.
• Knowledge and practical understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of manufacturing equipment and processes, including mechanical, electrical, and logistics-related equipment used within production environments.
• Experience with structured problem-solving/root-cause and problem-management processes.
• Ability to create and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and technical documentation.
• Experience with engineering and CAD software.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Must be detail-oriented, proactive, organized, safety-minded, and comfortable providing hands-on support on the manufacturing floor.
• Must be able to work onsite full time in Sanford, NC.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Creo, AutoCAD, and/or Geneo.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Quality Management Systems.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing process development.
• Project management experience and/or PMP certification.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience with manufacturing equipment troubleshooting, tooling improvements, equipment validation, and corrective actions.

Why This Role?

This position offers the opportunity to work directly within a high-volume manufacturing operation and have a measurable impact on production quality, efficiency, equipment capability, and capacity. The engineer will gain hands-on exposure to complex manufacturing processes while supporting new product introductions, equipment and tooling improvements, capital projects, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role also provides significant cross-functional exposure across Engineering, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Logistics, Safety, and Production teams.