Manufacturing Engineer (Appleton, WI)

Manufacturing Engineer
Location: Appleton, Wisconsin
Employment Type: Full-time, Direct Hire
Experience Level: Entry-level to early career

Position Overview

A leading manufacturer is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support the production of transformers, inductors, wire harnesses, and related electrical components.
In this role, you will develop and improve manufacturing and assembly processes, introduce new equipment and technologies, and lead projects that enhance safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance. You will work closely with production, design engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to move products from concept through successful production.
This is an excellent opportunity for a recent engineering graduate or early-career engineer who enjoys hands-on problem-solving and wants to build broad manufacturing experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for transformers, inductors, wire harnesses, and related assemblies.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, product quality, throughput, labor efficiency, and manufacturing cost.
• Evaluate new equipment, materials, tooling, components, and manufacturing technologies.
• Provide design-for-manufacturability input during new product development.
• Support the installation, calibration, process control, and preventive maintenance of production equipment.
• Work with automatic and semi-automatic wire cutting, crimping, transformer winding, assembly, and testing equipment.
• Design or improve assembly fixtures, testing fixtures, tooling, and workstations.
• Troubleshoot production, equipment, assembly, quality, and process-related problems.
• Lead root-cause investigations and implement effective corrective actions.
• Develop and oversee prototypes to validate new product and process concepts.
• Define project scope, objectives, schedules, resources, and deliverables.
• Lead continuous-improvement and waste-reduction projects.
• Coordinate projects across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain.
• Communicate project progress, risks, barriers, and recommended solutions to stakeholders at all levels.
• Manage multiple projects while maintaining accurate documentation and consistent follow-through.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Internship, co-op, academic project, or professional experience involving manufacturing, production, process engineering, or related engineering work.
• Strong analytical and hands-on problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to organize priorities and manage multiple assignments.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, accountable, and able to work independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with transformers, inductors, magnetics, cable assemblies, or wire harness manufacturing.
• Familiarity with wire cutting, stripping, crimping, winding, soldering, or electrical assembly processes.
• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures, or automated processes.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, or waste reduction.
• Experience with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or comparable CAD software.
• Exposure to design for manufacturability, process validation, prototyping, or new product introduction.
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance, calibration, process controls, and manufacturing documentation.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is curious, practical, and comfortable working both at a desk and on the production floor. You take ownership of problems, learn new processes quickly, and work well with employees who have a wide range of technical backgrounds. You are motivated by measurable improvements and consistently carry projects through to completion.
Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join an established manufacturing operation with technically interesting products.
• Gain hands-on exposure to equipment, automation, tooling, assembly, and new product introduction.
• Lead projects with visible effects on safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Work with experienced engineering and operations professionals.
• Build a strong foundation for long-term growth in manufacturing engineering.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.