Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer
Job Description
The Manufacturing Engineer proactively plans, deploys, and sustains quality into products and manufacturing processes using Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and New Product Introduction (NPI) frameworks. This role provides quality leadership for new product and new capital programs from concept through production validation and launch, with a strong focus on prevention-based quality, early risk identification, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure robust, capable processes and successful launches.
Responsibilities
Lead APQP execution for New Product Introduction (NPI) and New Capital Introduction (NCI) programs, ensuring early identification of validation plans, audit strategies, and project readiness reviews.
Support the development of Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs), ensuring risks are identified early, assessed appropriately, and effectively mitigated.
Develop, review, and maintain Control Plans that align with PFMEA risk assessments, process capability, and customer requirements.
Serve as the quality lead on NPI and capital programs by supporting design readiness, manufacturability assessments, inspection strategies, and error-proofing initiatives.
Lead process validation activities, including capability analysis, production trials, and run-at-rate evaluations to confirm process robustness and readiness for launch.
Partner closely with manufacturing, operations, and engineering teams to ensure internal process readiness and alignment with program objectives.
Support early production launches by monitoring key quality indicators, identifying emerging risks, and driving preventive and corrective actions.
Lead structured problem-solving activities when quality issues arise, ensuring root causes are identified and lessons learned are captured and fed back into APQP documentation.
Identify, define, and support quality metrics that focus on risk prevention, launch robustness, and continuous improvement.
Contribute to layout changes, equipment updates, new capital equipment implementations, and capacity expansion projects to ensure quality requirements are integrated into new or modified processes.
Provide input on tooling design to support robust, repeatable, and efficient manufacturing processes.
Communicate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to align expectations, share status updates, and drive timely issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
Essential Skills
Associate's degree minimum with 5-7+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience, or ideally 7+ years of experience with a bachelor's degree.
Strong experience in machining or assembly operations (experience in fabrication or welding is not the primary focus for this role).
Demonstrated experience with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), including hands-on involvement with PFMEAs and Control Plans.
Experience supporting layout changes, equipment updates, new capital equipment implementations, and capacity expansion projects.
Tooling design experience to support manufacturing process development and optimization.
Proven experience in manufacturing and quality engineering within a production environment.
Strong cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with quality, manufacturing, design, and operations teams.
Experience with new product introduction and new capital introduction activities within a manufacturing setting.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and/or New Capital Introduction (NCI) programs.
Quality-related certifications such as ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
Experience with process capability analysis, including statistical evaluation of process performance.
Experience with error-proofing (poka-yoke) methods to prevent defects and improve process robustness.
Familiarity with manufacturing and quality systems such as AQE, MESA, and deviation management tools.
Experience with torque tooling and its application in assembly processes.
Experience with gauge development, including selection, design, or implementation of gauges and measurement systems.
Demonstrated ability to work within a proactive quality team and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Work Environment
This is an onsite role with standard hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Manufacturing Engineer will work within a proactive quality team of approximately 8-10 people and collaborate indirectly with multiple manufacturing and operations employees. The proactive quality team resides within the broader facility quality organization, and this role reports into the quality function while working closely with cross-functional partners in quality, manufacturing, design, and operations. The work environment is split between office and factory settings, with roughly 70% of the time spent in an office and 30% on the factory floor. The office space includes a cubicle with a desk, dual monitors, storage cabinets, and typical office equipment, while the factory environment provides direct exposure to production processes, equipment, and shop-floor activities. This structure supports close collaboration, hands-on engagement with manufacturing operations, and opportunities to see the direct impact of engineering and quality decisions on production.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Lafayette, IN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $46.00/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 Lafayette,IN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jun 1, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
