The Manufacturing Engineer in Grand Prairie, TX ensures Zahner quality and efficiency through developing plans for the deployment of innovative technology, equipment, and approaches, throughout design, manufacturing, and installation processes. Incumbents at this level are called upon to work with moderately complex and challenging scenarios to ensure effective and efficient operational practices in Kansas City, Grand Prairie, and major project job sites as needed.
Since this position is located full-time in Grand Prairie, TX, up to 20% of time per week is allocated to support Grand Prairie local engineering initiatives as directed by the GP Operations Manager. In addition, periodic travel to Zahner’s Kansas City office will be required to maintain team continuity and alignment of company objectives and priorities.
Essential Duties
- Create programming, machine, and equipment utilization plans to optimize product and process design, reduce production cost, increase production speed, ensure quality, and promote safety.
- Research and evaluate prospective machines and equipment, conduct ROI analyses, and lead the setup and runoff of new machines and equipment.
- Define quality expectations, standardize procedures, and drive the design and implementation of new systems and details to support Design for Manufacturability (DFM) practices.
- Guide the development of manufacturing workflow diagrams and identify opportunities to develop custom tooling, job aids, or processes to support manufacturing methods and techniques.
- Monitor equipment needs, manufacturing floor layout, production cell setup, and identify when new equipment and infrastructure should be considered.
- Collect, evaluate, and report manufacturing metrics including but not limited to cycle time, throughput, downtime, capacity, Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), non-conformance, unplanned work, and production costs.
- Investigate and analyze non-conformance issues and unplanned work, lead Root Cause Analysis, and recommend corrective and/or preventative actions.
- Apply consistent engineering and proven lean principles to identify opportunities and promote continuous improvement across manufacturing activities.
Minimum Qualifications
- B.S. or B.E. in Civil, Industrial, or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited college or university.
- 3 years as a manufacturing/applications engineer in a manufacturing, fabrication, or construction environment.
- Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
- Full proficiency with machine programming, production equipment, and production methods.
- Strong proficiency and experience with CAD and 3D Modeling.
- Strong mechanical aptitude.
- Strong planning and organizational skills.
- Strong an analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Detailed knowledge of Lean Principles and concepts.
- Ability to work independently and proactively without direct supervision.
- Team mentality and willingness to collaborate with others.
- Flexibility, adaptability, resilience and the ability to multi-task in a challenging and fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5 years as a manufacturing/applications engineer in a manufacturing, fabrication, or construction environment.
- 1-2 years of direct experience in metal fabrication and/or installation.
- Formal project management experience.
- PMP certification
Work Environment, Physical Demands, Travel Requirements:
- The physical demands represent requirements to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions may be available.
- Work is performed in an office environment with common office tools. Required to receive and make telephone calls, send and receive email, text, and instant messages, maintain documents/records, communicate with coworkers and business partners.
- Majority of time is spent performing essential functions around a desk/table arrangement while occasionally moving to other locations for meetings, discussions, or observation.
- Must enter and interpret computer data, read, and file documents with small letters/numbers/symbols on documents and electronic devices.
- Moves devices/tools, pushes, and pulls, weighing less than 25 pounds.
- Lifting or raising small objects from the ground to a tabletop, occasionally lifting overhead.
- Travel by airplane and/or personal vehicle to and from other office locations is less than 20%.