Manufacturing Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective:

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for supporting, improving, and sustaining manufacturing processes across Dicor brand operations, including pultrusion manufacturing for composite sandwich panels, roller shade manufacturing, pleated shade manufacturing, RV entryway step assembly, and roof kit assembly. This role works directly with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to improve safety, quality, efficiency, throughput, and cost performance across these product lines.

Essential Functions:

• Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for pultruded composite sandwich panels, roller shades, pleated shades, RV entryway step assemblies, and roof kit assemblies to increase productivity, quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Analyze production workflows, equipment layouts, tooling, fixtures, material handling methods, and labor flow to identify improvement opportunities across multiple manufacturing departments.
• Develop and implement process improvements that reduce scrap, rework, setup time, downtime, ergonomic risk, and manufacturing cost while improving first-pass yield and on-time delivery.
• Support the design, organization, commissioning, and sustainment of production lines, work cells, tooling, equipment, and manufacturing systems for composite panel, shade, step assembly, and roof kit operations.
• Create and maintain standard work instructions, process documentation, routings, setup sheets, inspection points, and manufacturing procedures that support consistent daily execution.
• Support engineering changes, product transfers, material substitutions, tooling changes, and new product introductions by developing cost estimates, implementation plans, validation requirements, and documentation.
• Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, 5S, visual management, mistake-proofing, line balancing, and waste reduction tools.
• Analyze manufacturing performance metrics such as throughput, labor efficiency, scrap, rework, downtime, yield, safety, and delivery performance; develop action plans to improve KPI results.
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of manufacturing, quality, equipment, tooling, material, and production-related issues, including issues involving pultrusion processes, shade fabrication, assembly operations, adhesives, fasteners, packaging, and kit completeness.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support new product launches, process implementation, production trials, customer-driven changes, and manufacturability reviews.
• Develop work cell layouts, staffing models, production standards, capacity models, and manufacturing flow strategies for both existing and new products and processes.
• Identify, justify, and implement equipment, tooling, automation, guarding, and fixture improvements that support safe and repeatable manufacturing operations.
• Initiate actions to prevent product, process, or system nonconformities.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational objectives.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent manufacturing engineering experience may be considered.
• Minimum of one (1) year of manufacturing engineering, process engineering, industrial engineering, or related manufacturing experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment involving composites, fabricated products, assembly operations, shade manufacturing, cut-and-sew processes, kit packaging, or related production processes preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, bills of material, routings, work instructions, and engineering documentation.

Competencies:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production systems, assembly methods, material flow, labor standards, tooling, fixtures, and operational workflows.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and waste reduction methodologies.
• Working knowledge of composite panel manufacturing, shade fabrication, assembly processes, adhesive bonding, fastening methods, packaging, and production documentation preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to effectively communicate with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with engineering and manufacturing software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Microsoft Project, ERP/MRP systems, production reporting tools, and related manufacturing applications preferred.
• Strong mathematical and technical aptitude.
• Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Work Environment, Position Type, and Travel:

• Full-time exempt position.
• Occasional overtime may be required to support manufacturing operations, equipment installations, process improvements, or new product launches.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification preferred; experience with time studies, line balancing, standard work, value stream mapping, and practical problem solving is a plus.
• Automation implementation experience, equipment installation experience, or hands-on manufacturing project experience preferred.
• Occasional travel may be required for training, vendor visits, equipment runoff, benchmarking activities, customer-related project support, or supplier development.
• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout manufacturing facilities.
• Frequent use of computers and standard office equipment.
• Ability to reach, bend, kneel, and move throughout production areas as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 45 pounds.
• Ability to safely access manufacturing equipment and production areas while following all safety requirements.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

EEO Statement: All divisions of Airxcel provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Other Duties: Please be advised this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.