JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Technician provides hands-on technical support for manufacturing processes, tooling, equipment, and continuous improvement activities. This position is responsible for implementing process improvements on the production floor and assisting with daily machine, tooling, quality, safety, and equipment concerns.

The employee may be responsible for an entire project, from design through installation and implementation, or for an assigned portion of a larger project. The position works closely with Engineering, Production, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety, and Continuous Improvement personnel to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, equipment reliability, and cost performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Process and Equipment Improvement

• Monitor and control existing manufacturing processes.
• Apply mechanical, technical, and design skills to improve manufacturing processes, tooling, equipment, and workflow.
• Identify, implement, document, and evaluate process improvements within the employee’s level of responsibility and technical capability.
• Communicate process changes and improvement results to affected departments.
• Participate in continuous improvement teams, problem-solving groups, and plant improvement initiatives.
• Use constraint-management principles to identify and address production bottlenecks and maximize process output.
• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving daily machine, tooling, equipment, and process problems.
• Support root-cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring equipment or process concerns.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives to improve equipment availability and reliability.

Project and Design Responsibilities

• Manage assigned projects from design through installation, validation, training, and implementation, or complete assigned portions of larger projects.
• Develop or assist with equipment, tooling, fixtures, gauges, material-handling devices, and manufacturing-layout improvements.
• Create, revise, and maintain engineering drawings, equipment layouts, process documentation, and technical specifications.
• Coordinate equipment installations, modifications, trials, and production launches.
• Work with suppliers, contractors, Maintenance, Production, and Engineering personnel during project implementation.
• Prepare Authorization Requests and Expenditure Authorization Requests, including ARs and EARs, as required.
• Document process improvements through engineering drawing changes, procedure revisions, work instructions, and other controlled documentation.

Training and Technical Support

• Identify technical training needs within the assigned manufacturing area.
• Assist with developing technical training materials and programs.
• Train employees affected by new equipment, tooling, procedures, or process changes.
• Provide technical guidance to operators, production supervisors, maintenance employees, and other affected personnel.
• Provide technical support as requested by the supervisor.

Safety and Environmental Responsibilities

• Promote continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance.
• Ensure equipment is designed, installed, modified, or repaired in a manner that maintains or improves safety and environmental performance.
• Respond immediately to safety concerns and take appropriate action when unsafe conditions are identified.
• Provide technical support for correcting plant safety deficiencies within the assigned department.
• Follow all company environmental, health, and safety policies, programs, work instructions, and procedures.
• Participate in safety investigations, audits, risk assessments, corrective actions, and equipment-safety reviews as assigned.
• Stop and report any activity that presents a safety risk or does not comply with company requirements.
• Wear all required personal protective equipment.

Education

Preferred

• Associate degree in Engineering Science, Machine Design, Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.
• Equivalent technical education, apprenticeship training, or directly related manufacturing experience may be considered.

Experience

Required

• Four years of experience in machine operation, setup, troubleshooting, tooling, or manufacturing-process support.
• Demonstrated technical design, fabrication, installation, or equipment-build experience.
• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment and process-improvement activities.
• Experience using or administering a preventive maintenance system.

IROX-Specific Requirement

• Five years of experience in coating and surface-finish processes for positions assigned to IROX operations.

Preferred

• Experience using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, or comparable CAD software.
• Experience developing or modifying tooling, fixtures, gauges, equipment, or manufacturing layouts.
• Experience in automotive, coating, machining, metal-processing, or high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, root-cause analysis, and constraint management.
• Experience with preventive maintenance or computerized maintenance management systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong mechanical aptitude and technical troubleshooting ability.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, equipment manuals, schematics, procedures, specifications, and work instructions.
• Proficiency in CAD design, with AutoCAD preferred.
• Ability to use computers and standard Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to use measuring instruments, hand tools, and other equipment required for process and tooling evaluation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to organize projects, maintain documentation, and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with employees across departments and shifts.
• Ability to train employees and clearly communicate technical information.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Regularly move throughout the manufacturing facility and between production, maintenance, engineering, and office areas.
• Remain in a standing or walking position for extended periods while observing processes, troubleshooting equipment, conducting trials, or supporting installations.
• Frequently bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, reach, and position the body to inspect or access equipment, tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing processes.
• Occasionally ascend and descend stairs, ladders, platforms, or elevated work areas when inspecting equipment or supporting project activities.
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, pull, or position materials, tools, parts, drawings, or equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.
• Operate computers, measuring devices, hand tools, equipment controls, and other technical instruments.
• Possess the visual capability necessary to read engineering drawings, computer screens, measuring devices, labels, work instructions, and equipment-control displays.
• Communicate effectively in person and through available communication devices in a manufacturing environment.
• Wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, hearing protection, safety-toe footwear, gloves, and other task-specific protective equipment.
• Work safely around moving machinery, industrial vehicles, automated equipment, material-handling systems, and production processes.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in both office and active manufacturing environments.
• Regular exposure may include noise, heat, vibration, dust, industrial materials, moving equipment, automated machinery, and varying production-floor conditions.
• The employee must comply with posted safety requirements and operational controls while working in manufacturing areas.
• Occasional off-shift, weekend, shutdown, or overtime support may be required for equipment installations, process trials, production interruptions, and project implementation.
• Travel within the facility and limited business travel may be required.

Quality, Safety, and Environmental Accountability

• All employees have the authority to perform their assigned duties and address the responsibilities associated with their positions.
• The employee is authorized and expected to support and enforce applicable product-quality standards and quality systems at the Blacksburg facility.
• The employee is authorized and expected to support and enforce Environmental, Health, and Safety rules, regulatory requirements, corporate directives, programs, and systems.
• The employee must follow applicable local work instructions and Quality Management System procedures consistent with current IATF 16949 requirements.
• The employee is accountable for complying with the company’s safety expectations, including refusing to tolerate or permit unsafe conduct that could result in an occupational injury or illness.
• The employee must understand the hazards associated with the position and follow established controls to minimize those hazards.
• All accidents, injuries, near misses, hazards, and unsafe conditions must be reported promptly in accordance with company procedures.
• The employee must comply with the facility’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Management System and support established objectives and targets.
• Each employee has the authority and responsibility to stop and report an activity that is unsafe, violates company policy, or does not conform to applicable quality or environmental requirements.

Skills and Training Inventory

A current skills and training inventory must be maintained for the position in accordance with the facility’s document-control and training procedures.

The controlled template for the Salaried Employee Skills & Training Inventory List is FCD-1601. The employee is responsible for completing all required safety, environmental, quality, technical, and job-specific training.

General Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of every responsibility, duty, qualification, or working condition.

Management may modify job responsibilities and requirements based on operational needs, organizational changes, and the qualifications of the selected candidate. The company will consider reasonable accommodations that enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.