Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer
Job Description
The Manufacturing Engineer reviews customer orders for custom gears and transforms them into practical manufacturing plans. This role focuses on estimating and quoting, process engineering, and project management to ensure each part is accurately costed, efficiently planned, and successfully released to production. You will translate customer drawings into clear routers and blueprints, determine materials and tooling, coordinate with vendors and internal teams, and support continuous improvement across the production process.
Responsibilities
Review customer drawings, specifications, and RFQs for custom gear manufacturing projects and determine how each part will be made.
Analyze technical requirements to identify the most efficient manufacturing methods, operation sequences, tooling needs, and production approaches for each job.
Develop detailed cost estimates that include labor, machine time, materials, tooling, outside processing, and vendor services.
Identify manufacturing risks, special requirements, and key cost drivers during the quoting process and communicate them clearly to stakeholders.
Collaborate with customers and internal teams to clarify technical requirements and support follow-up activities related to quotes and proposals.
Own projects from order receipt through release to the production floor, ensuring all engineering documentation is complete and accurate.
Create and maintain manufacturing routers, process plans, work instructions, and job documentation for new and repeat orders.
Translate customer engineering drawings into clear manufacturing processes, production requirements, and step-by-step templates that dictate how products are built.
Generate manufacturing sketches and shop-floor documentation using AutoCAD to support machinists and production personnel.
Design or specify tooling, fixtures, broaches, and other manufacturing aids required to produce custom gears and precision parts.
Determine which materials need to be ordered for each job and coordinate with purchasing to ensure timely availability.
Coordinate materials, tooling, and outside vendor services to support production schedules and meet delivery commitments.
Develop complete job packages including drawings, material specifications, routing information, tooling requirements, and processing instructions.
Serve as the primary engineering resource between customers, purchasing, production, quality, and outside vendors, ensuring smooth communication and issue resolution.
Support production by troubleshooting manufacturing challenges, resolving technical issues, and identifying practical process improvements.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, lead time reduction, and cost savings within the manufacturing operation.
Create and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) as processes evolve and new products are introduced.
Accurately quote equipment and resources needed for new jobs and support planning activities related to bill of materials and ERP system usage.
Contribute to a collaborative, tight-knit team environment and support colleagues across engineering, production, and quality.
Essential Skills
Minimum of 2 years in an engineering position within a manufacturing environment.
Experience in a manufacturing environment with exposure to production processes, tooling, and materials.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and determine appropriate manufacturing methods.
Experience with manufacturing routers, process planning, estimating, quoting, or production planning.
Strong mechanical aptitude and proven manufacturing problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with AutoCAD for creating manufacturing sketches and shop-floor documentation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for documentation, analysis, and communication.
Excellent communication skills to work effectively with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
Strong organization and project management skills to own jobs from order receipt through release to production.
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering preferred; an Associate's Degree with relevant experience will also be considered.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Manufacturing engineering or quality engineering experience within the manufacturing sector.
Experience with bill of materials and ERP systems in a production environment.
SolidWorks experience is beneficial for design and documentation tasks.
Experience creating and maintaining SOPs in a manufacturing setting.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Exposure to gear manufacturing, precision machining, or similar environments is preferred.
Knowledge of AS9100 or other quality management systems is useful.
Ability to design or specify tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing aids for custom parts.
Comfort working in roles where design is important but not the primary focus of the position.
Work Environment
This role operates in a mix of office and manufacturing floor environments, providing direct exposure to production processes and equipment. You will work closely with a tight-knit team that values collaboration, practical problem-solving, and mutual support, without excessive pressure. The company offers an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), where employees on average receive a meaningful portion of their compensation in stock, aligning individual success with the organization's growth. The business is on a strong growth trajectory, with significant expansion plans and a clear path toward future leadership opportunities due to upcoming retirements. The culture emphasizes continuous improvement, technical excellence, and long-term career development in a stable, team-oriented setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Tonawanda, NY.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $43.26/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 Tonawanda,NY.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 22, 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.
