Job Title: Manufacturing EngineerJob Description
The Manufacturing Engineer plays a key role in optimizing manufacturing processes, improving quality, reducing errors, and increasing productivity in both highly automated and labor-intensive production areas. This position leads continuous improvement and automation initiatives, updates and creates clear work instructions, and delivers tangible cost savings while supporting a fast-paced aerospace safety restraint manufacturing operation. The role requires a proactive, hands-on engineer who thinks and acts like an owner, takes accountability, and drives results through teamwork, data-driven decision-making, and a strong focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.
Responsibilities
Identify and execute process improvement opportunities that increase quality, reduce mistakes, and improve productivity across both automated and manual production areas.
Refine and enhance production processes by applying continuous improvement principles aligned with business objectives.
Collaborate with Design Engineering to implement design-for-manufacturing improvements that support cost, quality, and delivery goals.
Lead root cause investigations using statistical and analytical tools such as DOE, SPC, A3, and other quality methodologies to eliminate recurring issues.
Develop creative, low-cost mistake-proofing solutions to address process failure modes and improve product and process reliability.
Identify, justify, and implement productivity improvements and cost-saving initiatives, demonstrating ownership and accountability for results.
Design and implement tooling, fixtures, and automation solutions to support efficient production and new product introductions.
Evaluate, justify, and manage capital equipment projects from concept and business case through design, procurement, installation, and validation, including responsibility for schedule and budget.
Author, update, and maintain accurate manufacturing documentation, including work instructions and control plans, and manage documentation in product data management (PDM) systems.
Partner with cross-functional business unit teams to identify opportunities to automate and modernize legacy processes.
Troubleshoot manufacturing issues on the shop floor, quickly identify root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
Apply automation fundamentals, including understanding sensors and reading and interpreting electrical and mechanical schematics, to optimize equipment and processes.
Use quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, PPAP, control plans, and structured root cause analysis to support robust, repeatable manufacturing processes.
Manage engineering projects with clear milestones, providing regular progress updates in weekly meetings and ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery of development and improvement projects.
Drive process improvements and equipment upgrades that deliver measurable cost savings, with an annual goal of achieving significant productivity and cost benefits.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional groups including engineering, test, certification, and purchasing to ensure successful project execution and product performance.
Champion open communication and cross-functional teamwork, ensuring that challenges, risks, and improvement ideas are surfaced and addressed promptly.
Demonstrate strong project management skills by organizing and executing multiple priorities efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Act as a cultural ambassador by thinking and acting like an owner, operating with integrity and urgency, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Robotic, or Mechatronic Engineering.
Minimum 3 years of experience in manufacturing engineering or a related role, including work with automated manufacturing equipment.
Minimum 3 years of experience applying Lean or Six Sigma methodologies (preferred but strongly valued).
Minimum 3 years of experience using quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, PPAP, control plans, and structured root cause analysis.
Proficiency with SolidWorks, with self-assessed capability of at least 7 out of 10 for modeling and creating tooling and fixtures.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and identify root causes quickly and accurately.
Experience managing capital equipment projects, including responsibility for schedule and budget.
Practical understanding of automation fundamentals, including sensors and the ability to read and interpret schematics.
Experience creating and maintaining written work instructions and documenting processes in a PDM system.
Experience with ERP systems and engineering management processes.
Ability to apply continuous improvement principles to refine processes and align with business objectives.
Strong analytical thinking and data-driven decision-making skills.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams in engineering, test, certification, and purchasing.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly document processes and present project status and results.
Demonstrated leadership, accountability, and a bias for action in a manufacturing environment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience in the aerospace industry is preferred but not required.
Knowledge of PLCs, sensors, motors, actuators, and pneumatic or hydraulic systems is preferred.
Experience with ERP systems, with QAD experience considered a plus.
Familiarity with FAA requirements and standards relevant to aerospace manufacturing.
Experience with AutoCAD and mechanical design, including application of GD&T and ANSI Y14.5 standards.
Hands-on experience with troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and implementation of sustainable solutions.
Experience driving productivity improvements through equipment and process optimization.
Ability to champion simplicity, process focus, and a culture of continuous learning and enhancement.
Spanish language skills are a plus but not required.
Curious, self-motivated personality with a strong sense of ownership and commitment to completing tasks and projects on time.
Work Environment
This role operates in a combined office and aerospace safety restraint manufacturing environment. You will work in an engineering office setting and regularly spend time on the production floor, engaging with both highly automated and labor-intensive manufacturing processes. The position routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines, as well as interacting with production equipment, tooling, fixtures, and automation systems. The organization offers the feel of a smaller, close-knit operation while benefiting from the resources and stability of a larger parent company. The culture emphasizes ownership, accountability, teamwork, open communication, and continuous improvement, with clear project expectations, regular progress reviews, and a strong focus on safety, quality, and delivering high-performance products used worldwide in aircraft seat belts, safety restraints, and airbag systems.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Phoenix, AZ.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.86 - $43.27/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Phoenix,AZ.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 6, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
