Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Gastonia NC (IFAB Corp On-site)

Job Type: Full-Time

At IFAB Corp the Manufacturing Engineer is the technical owner of how parts are this role you will design document and continuously improve our fabrication and assembly processesstamping forming welding CNC machining assembly and coatingto ensure production runs to standard with predictable cycle times yield and costs.

If you thrive in a hands-on shop-floor environment where your engineering background directly drives plant productivity quality and process capability this role is for you.

• Process Engineering & Documentation: Develop and maintain manufacturing routings operation sequences standard times and Bills of Materials (BOMs) within our ERP environment (Sage 500). Author and control work instructions setup sheets and visual standards.

• Tooling & Fixturing: Design fixturing and workholding using 3D CAD (SolidWorks/AutoCAD) coordinate build or purchase and validate capability through first-article runs.

• Process Optimization & Productivity: Identify and eliminate key cost drivers reduce setup times (SMED) implement Lean Manufacturing techniques and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

• Quality & Root-Cause Problem Solving: Lead process-side root-cause analysis (8D 5-Why Fishbone) to reduce scrap and rework. Support APQP/PPAP deliverables (PFMEA Control Plans Run-at-Rate).

• NPI & Engineering Changes (ECO): Provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback on new parts and execute engineering changes smoothly on the production floor without operational disruptions.

• Safety & Compliance: Ensure processes guarding ergonomics and material handling meet plant safety standards and satisfy ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 audit requirements.

• Education: Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Mechanical Industrial or Welding Engineering (or an Associate degree combined with 6 years of hands-on manufacturing engineering experience).

• Experience: 3 years of manufacturing engineering experience in metal fabrication stamping welding CNC machining or assembly.

• Technical Skills:

  • Strong proficiency interpreting blueprints GD&T and welding symbols.

  • Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks Inventor or AutoCAD).

  • Hands-on experience working with ERP systems (routings work centers BOMs).

  • Structured problem-solving discipline (8D 5-Why Fishbone).

• Shop-Floor Presence: Comfortable spending the majority of the working day on the production floor working directly with operators and supervisors.

• Language: Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred for direct communication with the shop-floor workforce.

• Experience across multiple fabrication processes within one facility (press brake laser/plasma cutting robotic and manual welding CNC machining paint/coating).

• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or above).

• Automotive or heavy-truck supply chain experience operating within an IATF 16949 / ISO 9001 quality system.

• Robotic welding or automation programming and integration experience.

• Specific experience with Sage 500 ERP.

• CWI or weld process qualification background (AWS D1.1 / D1.3).

• Technical Credibility: Earns operator and supervisor trust by solving floor-level issues through collaboration.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Quantifies results before and after project execution to validate cost savings and cycle time improvements.

• End-to-End Ownership: Stays with process modifications until they run reliably to standard on the floor.

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

• Growth opportunities within a dynamic manufacturing operations environment.

• Collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.