Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Environment: On-Site
Location: Apple Valley, CA
Manufacturing Engineer
Position Summary
The Manufacturing Engineer develops, implements, documents, and continuously improves manufacturing processes supporting precision polymer and CNC machining operations. The position plays a key role in PCTI's transition from a traditional job-shop environment to a work-center operating model by improving process capability, reducing setup time, increasing throughput, and establishing repeatable manufacturing standards.
The Manufacturing Engineer partners cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and other business functions to resolve manufacturing challenges, support new product introduction, and improve production performance. This role will also provide technical support for the development and operational readiness of PCTI's expanded Apple Valley manufacturing footprint.
Essential Job Functions
- Develop, document, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing processes supporting polymer processing, CNC machining, and related production operations.
- Analyze manufacturing workflows and implement improvements designed to reduce setup time, improve throughput, eliminate waste, and increase overall process capability and consistency.
- Support PCTI's transition from a job-shop operating model to a work-center model by helping establish repeatable processes, defined process ownership, standardized work, and effective production flow.
- Design, specify, evaluate, and improve manufacturing tooling, fixtures, workholding solutions, work instructions, and other process controls necessary to support safe, efficient, and repeatable production.
- Establish, document, and maintain appropriate manufacturing process parameters and operating standards, including requirements applicable to cleanroom or controlled manufacturing environments.
- Partner with Quality to improve process capability, reduce nonconformances, implement error-proofing methods, and address manufacturing-related quality concerns through sustainable process improvements.
- Troubleshoot manufacturing and production issues using structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis methods and implement corrective actions designed to prevent recurrence.
- Support new product and new part introduction activities, including manufacturing feasibility, process development, first-article production, process stabilization, and transition into repeatable production.
- Perform configuration management duties, including creating and maintaining items, bills of material (BOMs), and routers to ensure accurate manufacturing planning, production execution, revision control, and traceability.
- Analyze manufacturing performance and identify opportunities related to setup reduction, cycle time, material flow, equipment utilization, process capability, quality, and operational efficiency.
- Support equipment, layout, workflow, and manufacturing-process planning associated with the expansion and development of PCTI's Apple Valley manufacturing operations.
- Collaborate with production employees, machinists, supervisors, Quality, Engineering, and organizational leadership to implement manufacturing improvements and promote effective knowledge transfer.
- Develop and maintain appropriate manufacturing documentation necessary to support process consistency, training, quality requirements, and continuous improvement.
Additional Duties
- Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to meet business needs.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline; or an equivalent combination of relevant education and directly applicable manufacturing engineering experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or improving manufacturing processes within a precision manufacturing, machining, or similarly complex production environment.
- Working knowledge of manufacturing process development, process documentation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Working knowledge of CNC machining processes and manufacturing equipment.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, manufacturing specifications, and technical documentation.
- Demonstrated experience identifying root causes of manufacturing problems and implementing sustainable corrective or process-improvement solutions.
- Ability to work effectively in a hands-on manufacturing environment and collaborate with production personnel, technical specialists, Quality, Engineering, and leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting aerospace, medical device, defense, or other highly regulated/high-reliability manufacturing environments.
- Experience with polymer or plastics manufacturing processes and knowledge of material behavior, including dimensional change and shrinkage.
- Experience with Lean manufacturing methodologies, cellular or work-center manufacturing, setup reduction, standardized work, and waste elimination.
- Experience supporting CNC machining operations, including tooling, fixtures, workholding, setup optimization, and process improvement.
- Experience supporting cleanroom or controlled-environment manufacturing operations.
- Experience supporting the startup, expansion, relocation, or reconfiguration of manufacturing operations or facilities.
- Experience supporting new product introduction, first-article production, and transition from development into stable production.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing engineering principles, manufacturing-process development, and process optimization.
- Working knowledge of CNC machining methods, equipment, tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing workflows.
- Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, setup reduction, standardized work, work-center/cellular flow, and continuous improvement principles.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and other technical manufacturing documentation.
- Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, including root-cause analysis and corrective-action development.
- Ability to evaluate manufacturing processes and translate observations and data into practical process improvements.
- Ability to develop clear manufacturing documentation, work instructions, process standards, and technical procedures.
- Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to production employees, machinists, supervisors, engineers, Quality personnel, and organizational leadership.
- Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple manufacturing-improvement priorities.
- Ability to work collaboratively across functional boundaries while maintaining clear accountability for assigned projects and deliverables.
- Proficiency with standard business software and applicable engineering/manufacturing systems.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to regularly move between office, engineering, and manufacturing areas.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while observing, evaluating, troubleshooting, or supporting manufacturing processes.
- Ability to sit and work at a computer or engineering workstation for periods of time.
- Ability to use hands and fingers for computer work, measurement activities, documentation, and interaction with manufacturing equipment and tooling.
- Ability to visually inspect manufacturing processes, components, tooling, drawings, computer displays, and measurement results.
- Ability to communicate effectively with employees and other stakeholders in office and manufacturing environments.
- Ability to occasionally bend, reach, stoop, crouch, or otherwise position oneself as necessary to observe or evaluate manufacturing equipment and processes.
- Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials, tooling, components, or equipment associated with manufacturing-engineering activities.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Work Environment
- Work is performed in a combination of office and active manufacturing environments.
- Regular presence on the manufacturing floor is expected to observe processes, troubleshoot production issues, support implementation activities, and collaborate with production personnel.
- The manufacturing environment may include operating machinery, elevated noise levels, moving equipment, manufacturing materials, lubricants, particulates, and other conditions typical of precision manufacturing operations.
- Work may periodically occur in cleanroom, controlled, or customer-regulated manufacturing environments requiring compliance with applicable gowning, contamination-control, or procedural requirements.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required while working in designated manufacturing areas.
- The position may require flexibility in work schedule to support production activities, equipment/process implementation, troubleshooting, facility expansion, or other business needs.
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
Export Control / ITAR Compliance Statement
This position may require access to information and items subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Access to such information is restricted to U.S. persons as defined under applicable law. Employment in this position is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements and, where applicable, the company’s ability to obtain any required authorization.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Polymer Concepts Technologies PBY, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with business needs.
