Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Position Summary

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in supporting a leading heavy equipment manufacturer by driving manufacturing excellence, automation integration, and process optimization. This position will lead engineering efforts for new product introduction, campus capacity planning, and advanced assembly technologies to ensure scalability, safety, and quality in a rapidly evolving production environment.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Introduction (NPI):

• Lead manufacturing engineering activities for a new Wheel Loader program, including process design and assembly line setup.
• Support the transition from concept to production, ensuring manufacturability, cost efficiency, and production readiness.

Automation & Advanced Manufacturing:

• Develop and implement automated conveyance systems, AGVs/AMRs, and evaluate cobot applications for assembly.
• Collaborate on vision system integration for in-process quality control and AI-driven final inspection.

Campus & Facility Planning:

• Conduct capacity studies and traffic flow analysis to support facility expansion and consolidation.
• Assist in virtual modeling of current vs. future state layouts to optimize material flow and product distribution.

Assembly Process Optimization:

• Drive ergonomic and process safety improvements through automation and the replacement of manual lifting systems.
• Oversee implementation of automated assembly solutions for CAB systems and ensure adherence to safety standards.

Continuous Improvement:

• Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools to identify bottlenecks and improve throughput and efficiency.
• Ensure automation solutions are flexible and redeployable across the facility.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with operations, facility engineering, and external technology suppliers.
• Develop Statements of Work (SOWs) and support strategic automation and facility projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 10 years of manufacturing engineering experience within the heavy equipment or automotive sectors.
• Proven expertise in automation technologies (AGVs, AMRs, cobots) and machine vision systems.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, ergonomics, and process safety.
• Experience in capacity planning, factory layout optimization, and assembly process engineering.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with industry-specific manufacturing systems and standards.
• Experience using digital factory simulation tools.
• Strong project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Work Environment

• Onsite role at the Clayton, NC facility.
• Requires close collaboration with multiple internal teams and occasional travel for supplier visits or technology assessments.