Junior Manufacturing Specialist/ Engineer, Modules

Ballard Spahr LLP•Burnaby, BC

5d•CA$60,000 - CA$75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ballard’s Manufacturing Assembly and Test Team has a position available for an Junior Manufacturing Engineer / Manufacturing Specialist at our Burnaby facility. This junior-level role will support stack and module assembly processes by assisting with production support, process documentation, data collection, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities. The successful candidate will be a hands-on, detail-oriented early-career engineer or specialist who can work closely with Production, Quality, Product Development, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to help resolve production issues, improve process consistency, and support new product and process introductions. Exposure to Lean manufacturing, Work Instructions, root cause analysis, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, DOE, error proofing, and structured continuous improvement is preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or a related engineering or technical discipline; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
E1-level experience, typically demonstrated through internships, co-op terms, academic projects, technician experience, or early-career exposure to manufacturing, assembly, testing, or process improvement.
0 to 3 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, production support, process engineering, quality, testing, or a related technical environment.
Hands-on interest or experience with assembly processes, preferably including stack assembly, module assembly, leak testing, compression, bonding, fastening, inspection, or end-of-line test operations.
Basic understanding of manufacturing process documentation such as Process Flows, Work Instructions, checklists, rework procedures, PFMEAs, Control Plans, and validation records.
Ability to support production issue investigations by gathering data, documenting observations, and helping identify root causes and corrective actions.
Exposure to Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, visual management, error proofing, SPC, MSA, DOE, and process capability analysis is preferred.
Hands-on aptitude for troubleshooting mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, or electromechanical systems is an asset.
Exposure to fixtures, tooling, gauges, production equipment, or CAD tools is preferred; Creo experience is considered an asset.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical information clearly and communicate effectively with operators, technicians, engineers, and leaders.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to Lean manufacturing, Work Instructions, root cause analysis, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, DOE, error proofing, and structured continuous improvement is preferred.
Exposure to Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, visual management, error proofing, SPC, MSA, DOE, and process capability analysis is preferred.
Hands-on aptitude for troubleshooting mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, or electromechanical systems is an asset.
Exposure to fixtures, tooling, gauges, production equipment, or CAD tools is preferred; Creo experience is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Support stack and module assembly processes, including process documentation, production readiness activities, training material updates, process controls, and continuous improvement tasks under guidance.
Assist Manufacturing Engineering, Production, and Quality teams with daily production support, issue tracking, data gathering, and follow-up actions for assigned assembly and test processes.
Help troubleshoot new and existing manufacturing processes across stack, module, and related assembly operations using structured problem-solving methods such as 5-Why, Ishikawa, DMAIC, and 8D.
Create, update, and maintain process documents such as Process Flows, PFMEAs, Control Plans, Work Instructions, checklists, rework procedures, and validation records with review from senior team members.
Support the design, sourcing, validation, and implementation of tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and test equipment used in stack and module assembly processes.
Assist with capacity studies, line layout updates, material presentation improvements, and workflow observations for current and future assembly demand.
Partner with Quality and Production to document non-conformances, support containment actions, and assist with corrective and preventive action implementation.
Support new product introduction, engineering changes, pilot builds, and production ramp activities by helping assess manufacturability, process risks, and production readiness.
Collect and review production data, quality metrics, and operator feedback to identify trends and recommend potential improvements.
Support BOM verification, routing accuracy checks, standard work updates, equipment qualification activities, and documentation changes as required.