What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manufacturing Engineer - Torque position at Stoughton?
Stoughton Trailers is a trusted, industry‑leading trailer manufacturer with a strong focus on safety, quality, and engineering excellence. Proper fastening and torque control are critical to ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and long-term durability—especially within our Critical Road Safety (CRS) program.
What You’ll Do -
You will lead fastening strategy, tooling implementation, and torque system optimization across manufacturing operations.
Fastening Strategy & Engineering Leadership:
- Lead development and execution of torque and fastening strategies across Stoughton Trailers manufacturing facilities
- Define and standardize fastening systems, tooling, and torque specifications for new and existing products
- Support engineering projects by leading fastening strategy from development through implementation
- Collaborate in design reviews to align fastening requirements with product design and manufacturing feasibility
- Ensure alignment on project costing and tooling investment strategy
Tooling, Systems & Technical Ownership
- Serve as the primary technical expert for:
- DC electric torque tools (Atlas Copco, Cleco, Stanley, Bosch, etc.)
- Torque auditing systems and fastening equipment
- Lead sourcing, procurement, and validation of fastening tooling and equipment
- Perform tool runoffs, validation, and installation at plant or supplier locations
- Manage:
- Tool programming and configuration
- Scanner programming and system integration
- Tool troubleshooting, repair coordination, and lifecycle management
- Maintain and update fastening tooling standards and specifications
Process Capability, Quality & Data Analysis
- Develop and implement strategies to ensure process capability of torque and fastening operations
- Perform torque audits, calibration management, and fastening validation activities
- Analyze production data to identify trends, deviations, and process improvement opportunities
- Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC) and data tools (e.g., Minitab) to drive improvements
- Lead root cause investigations related to fastening failures and tool performance issues
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement:
- Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and IT teams
- Support integration of DC tooling systems with digital platforms (e.g., CRS portals and data systems)
- Improve tool performance, uptime, and overall fastening process reliability
- Support supplier development and validation activities for fastening equipment
New Product Support & CRS Compliance:
- Support new product launches by validating:
- Torque specifications
- Fastening strategies
- Quality control plans
- Ensure compliance with Stoughton Trailers Critical Road Safety (CRS) program requirements
- Maintain documentation including:
- Torque specs
- Tool parameters
- Audit records
- Quality inspection data
Training, Documentation & Communication:
- Develop and deliver training for production and maintenance teams on:
- Proper torque techniques
- Tool usage and troubleshooting
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to plant personnel
- Maintain clear and accurate documentation for engineering, quality, and audit purposes
- Communicate findings, risks, and improvements to stakeholders
What You Bring -
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in:
- Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent)
- 5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
- 5 years of direct experience with fastening systems and torque tooling
Technical Expertise:
- Hands-on experience with DC electric torque tools and fastening systems
- Strong knowledge of:
- Torque theory and joint design principles
- Fastening techniques and application strategies
- Tool calibration and validation methods
- Experience with:
- Tool programming and troubleshooting
- Torque auditing and process control
- Assembly tooling and fastening implementation
- Familiarity with:
- SPC, quality systems (QMS), and data analysis tools (e.g., Minitab)
- Experience supporting cross‑functional engineering projects and multi-site operations
Additional Skills & Abilities:
- Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities
- Ability to lead both strategy development and hands‑on technical implementation
- Strong problem‑solving and root cause analysis capability
- Ability to travel and support multiple manufacturing locations
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in automotive, aerospace, or precision assembly environments
- Knowledge of PLCs, automation systems, or tool control integration
- Experience with ABS testing systems
Core Competencies:
- Technical expertise and systems ownership
- Analytical thinking and data-driven decision making
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
- Attention to detail and quality focus
Working Conditions:
- Split time between office and manufacturing floor environments
- Exposure to manufacturing equipment and production conditions
- Occasional travel required to support:
- Manufacturing facilities
- Suppliers
- Equipment validation activities
Why This Role Matters at Stoughton Trailers
The Torque Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring product safety, fastening reliability, and regulatory compliance, particularly within the Critical Road Safety (CRS) program. By driving standardized fastening practices, optimizing tool performance, and improving process capability, this role directly impacts product quality, customer safety, and manufacturing efficiency across Stoughton Trailers operations.