Upper Manufacturing Engineer
Job Description
The Upper Manufacturing Engineer leads and mentors a small engineering team while driving process development and continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role focuses on optimizing manufacturing output, scaling and setting up production lines, and resolving escalated production issues on the manufacturing floor. The engineer collaborates closely with production, engineering, quality, and operations teams to ensure products and facility output meet performance, quality, and delivery goals.
Responsibilities
Lead, mentor, and direct an engineering team that includes a mechanical designer, a manufacturing engineer, and multiple engineering technicians.
Act as the primary escalation point for production issues, driving rapid containment, root cause analysis, and resolution.
Work predominantly on the manufacturing floor to understand process gaps, equipment challenges, and material flow issues, and implement effective solutions.
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues directly on the floor to minimize downtime and maintain stable output.
Design, implement, and refine manufacturing processes for inverter assembly to improve quality, throughput, and reliability.
Lead process development efforts to optimize manufacturing output and support both project-based and escalated work items.
Develop, document, and maintain standard work instructions to ensure process repeatability, safety, and product quality.
Lead the setup, validation, and optimization of production lines and work cells, including scaling existing lines and establishing new lines.
Identify bottlenecks in production and drive improvements using lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methods.
Improve cycle time, labor efficiency, and first-pass yield through data-driven analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with design engineering to improve product manufacturability and ensure smooth transition from design to production.
Work directly with the team to translate engineering bills of materials (EBOMs) into manufacturing bills of materials (MBOMs) in a PLM-integrated environment.
Support production ramp-ups by removing constraints, stabilizing processes, and ensuring robust line performance.
Coach and demonstrate lean manufacturing techniques to production and engineering staff.
Collaborate regularly with leadership and department heads to communicate progress on high-priority projects and operational goals.
Contribute to building a scalable manufacturing engineering function, including mentoring junior engineers and supporting project management activities.
Utilize Manufacturing Execution System (MES) integration and ERP tools to improve material consumption accuracy, routing, and work order management.
Design fixtures and layouts using 3D CAD tools to support efficient, safe, and high-quality manufacturing operations.
Apply kanban and other visual management systems to support material flow, inventory control, and production scheduling.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Electrical Engineering, with consideration for Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in a relevant technical field.
5+ years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing engineering role.
Strong manufacturing engineering experience with demonstrated experience in process development and optimization.
Proven ability to translate EBOMs to MBOMs in a PLM-integrated environment.
Strong working knowledge of NetSuite ERP for routing, operations, and work order management.
Experience with Manufacturing Execution System (MES) integration in a production environment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience mentoring junior engineers and supporting the development of a scalable manufacturing engineering function.
experience in inverter assembly or similar complex electro-mechanical product manufacturing.
Familiarity with kanban systems and visual management tools for material flow and production control.
Experience with project management in a manufacturing or operations environment.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Simpsonville, SC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $53.00/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 Simpsonville,SC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jun 25, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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.
