Manufacturing Engineer - Welding

Date: Apr 13, 2026

Location: South Bend, IN, US

Company: Tenneco

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

 

With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.

 

How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

 

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.


Want to learn more about who we are? Check out
our website to discover the Tenneco Way

 

GENERAL SUMMARY

This Manufacturing Engineer position is responsible for developing, optimizing, and supporting manufacturing processes with a strong emphasis on welding operations/environmental control systems. This role partners closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective manufacturing operations while driving continuous improvement across the facility. This position is also responsible for contributing to a safe workplace and minimizing negative impacts by complying with the EHS policies, procedures, work instructions outlined in the EHSMS Training Assessment for this position.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design, develop, and continuously improve manufacturing processes to support production goals related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
  • Lead welding process development, validation, and optimization for manual and automated welding applications (e.g., MIG, TIG, robotic welding).
  • Establish and maintain standard work, work instructions, and process controls for welding and fabrication operations.
  • Support new product introductions (NPI), equipment installations, and process qualifications.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert for welding processes, materials, fixtures, and equipment.
  • Troubleshoot welding defects, quality issues, and production inefficiencies, implementing effective corrective actions.
  • Partner with Quality to ensure weld integrity meets internal standards and applicable codes and specifications.
  • Support welder training, certification requirements, and ongoing skill development.
  • Collaborate with EHS and Maintenance to support effective ventilation and environmental controls in welding and manufacturing operations.
  • Assist with documentation, data collection, and reporting related to environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements as applicable.
  • Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools to reduce waste, improve throughput, and enhance quality.
  • Lead or support kaizen events, process audits, and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Partner with Maintenance on equipment reliability, downtime reduction, and corrective action implementation.
  • Provide technical guidance and training to production teams and supervisors.
  • Champion a strong safety culture by ensuring engineering solutions reduce risk and support safe work practices.
  • Ensure manufacturing and welding processes comply with internal standards, customer requirements, and regulatory guidelines.
  • Support internal and external audits related to manufacturing and engineering processes.

 

GENERAL DUTIES:

    • Work safe, smart, and effectively.
    • Do your best.
    • Support teamwork.
    • Respect fellow Team Members.
    • Continue learning.
    • Be on time.
    • Abide by our values.
    • Demonstrate high standards of performance, integrity, and ethics.
    • Have a positive attitude.
    • Focus on quality.
    • Keep your work area clean and organized.
    • Take ownership, responsibility, and accountability for your actions.
    • Initiate continuous improvement.
    • Treat the business as if you own it.
    • Ensures compliance with all EHSMS policies and procedures.
    • Instructs on safe work practices and promotes safety consciousness while practicing safety procedures, enforcing policy regarding safety and making recommendations when needed. 
    • Sees that company policies and programs are effectively made known; cooperates and assists in the development of effective communications.
    • Promotes a positive employer-employee relation. 
    • Maintains departmental efficiency regarding timeliness and quality of reports and procedural requirements.
    • Maintains inter-departmental relationships of such a caliber as to promote confidence, integrity and cooperation.
    • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to maneuver around plant machinery, work near moving mechanical parts and work in an environment with varying temperatures.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
    • Each employee has the authority to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of non-conformities relating to the product, process and quality system and has the authority to stop further work on non-conforming suspect product until the deficiency or conditions have been corrected.
    • All employees will abide by their location’s EH&S policy endorsed by the local management, comply with the legal and other requirements and operational controls established under its EHSMS, work toward achieving established objectives and targets, and conform to procedures consistent with the ISO 14001 standard.  All employees will also understand all of the environmental aspects of his/her job. An employee should report, and if necessary, stop any activity that does not conform to the policy or may injure himself/herself.
    • Capable of providing support as requested by supervisor.
    • Other duties as assigned.

 

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

 

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

 

EXPERIENCE

  • 3–7 years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in a fabrication or welding-intensive environment.
  • Strong hands-on knowledge of welding processes, equipment, and materials.
  • Exposure to environmental compliance, EHS requirements, or air quality monitoring such as fume extraction, and industrial ventilation systems.
  • Proven ability to troubleshoot production issues and implement sustainable engineering solutions Minimum of five years’ experience in the Manufacturing Engineering field.
  • Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Certification preferred. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
  • Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Project management and organizational capability
  • Proficiency with engineering drawings, CAD, and manufacturing documentation
  • Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint.
  • Exceptional time management and organizational skills.
  • Skilled in Pro/Engineer software and other advanced computer software
  • Demonstrates leadership ability, conflict resolution and problem solving.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate with all levels of management and hourly employees.
  • Experience within an assembly environment and heavy industrial environment preferred.
  • Knowledgeable of mechanical principles, tooling, vision systems and controls generally acquired through a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing or mechanical or electrical engineering.
  • Capable of efficiently integrating existing methods with new innovation to economically solve manufacturing problems.
  • Understand PLC software for machines.
  • Able to mentally visualize and comprehend all aspects of manufacturing equipment and/or tooling problems and be attentive to detail.
  • Understanding of quality planning methods and measuring equipment including SPC.Willingness to travel to customers, suppliers and group companies.
  • Competency in Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Measure System Analysis (MSA), and Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Ability to understand and read electrical software (ie: Siemens S7 and S5 software).
  • Understand PLC software for machines.
  • Understand electrical control hardware and software.

 

 

 PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

    • Manufacturing plant environment with regular exposure to welding, fabrication, and production areas.
    • Use of appropriate PPE required.
    • Occasional off-shift or weekend support may be required based on business needs.
    • Must be able to lift, push, and/or pull up to 60 pounds occasionally.
    • On a continuous basis must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
    • Must be able to make occasional trips to manufacturing sites and customers by air and by automobile.
    • Able to be on call 24/7 for customer and manufacturing sites or operations emergency support.
    • Able and willing to work around fuel mixtures, moving parts, and electrical power.
    • Able to mentally visualize and comprehend all aspects of manufacturing equipment and/or tooling problems and be attentive to detail.

 

 

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities


Nearest Major Market: South Bend