Manufacturing Engineer - Advanced Coating & Blending

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.•Pooler, GA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

Mitsubishi Power is hiring a Manufacturing Engineer for the Savannah Machinery Works location. The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for the technical leadership, development, optimization, qualification, and automation of thermal spray coating processes supporting gas turbine component manufacturing and repair operations. This position operates with limited supervision, provides technical authority for assigned component families and coating processes, mentors engineering and production personnel, and leads the implementation of complex process improvements. This role focuses on a multi-step coating process consisting of surface preparation through robotic grit blasting, metallic bond coat application utilizing High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) thermal spray technology, ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) application utilizing Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) technology, and subsequent coating finishing operations including blend-back processing and cooling hole reopening. The engineer is responsible for establishing and deploying best practices from OSC, TGO, coating equipment OEMs, and industry benchmarks while identifying and eliminating process risks impacting first-pass yield, hidden rework, coating thickness variation, coating geometry variation, operator dependency, and production throughput. Because coating operations require rigorous qualification and certification requirements, this position is responsible for maintaining process compliance and supporting individual spray booth qualification activities performed through Mitsubishi Power’s parent company. The position leads the development of future-state manufacturing processes incorporating robotic automation, adaptive process controls, automated recipe management, robotic blending technologies, automated cooling hole reopening solutions, digital manufacturing technologies, and integrated process monitoring systems to improve safety, quality, throughput, dimensional consistency, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience supporting advanced welding, joining, laser processing, and automated manufacturing operations.
Proven success leading process development, automation initiatives, capital equipment implementation, OEM partnerships, and continuous improvement efforts.
Experience using manufacturing data to improve quality, yield, productivity, process capability, and automation performance.
Ability to interpret technical drawings, schematics, and specifications; prepare technical reports; and effectively communicate with employees, customers, and leadership.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and technical calculation capabilities.
Proficient with robotic and welding programming software, laser systems, CAD/CAM tools, simulation software, SPC/data analysis tools, Microsoft Office, and manufacturing systems such as SAP, MES, SCADA, Windchill, DNC/MDC, and machine monitoring platforms.
Travel up to 50% to support suppliers, equipment providers, manufacturing facilities, and parent company locations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with industrial automation, controls integration, manufacturing data collection, equipment connectivity, and digital manufacturing solutions.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, optimization, and sustainment of thermal spray coating processes, including robotic grit blasting, HVOF bond coat application, APS ceramic coating application, coating repair, stripping, and restoration.
Serve as the technical subject matter expert for coating process capability, blending, dimensional restoration, cooling hole reopening, and manufacturing readiness.
Develop and deploy manufacturing best practices, process standards, specifications, procedures, and qualification requirements to ensure consistent, repeatable, and high-quality production.
Own coating manufacturing programs, process data, DNC/MDC systems, and change control processes to ensure traceability, validation, revision control, and compliance.
Analyze manufacturing performance and identify opportunities to improve coating quality, yield, throughput, process capability, automation, and operational efficiency.
Develop automation strategies and roadmaps that reduce manual intervention, improve repeatability, and support next-generation coating, finishing, and material handling systems.
Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Automation, Tooling, OEMs, suppliers, and integrators to develop and implement integrated coating manufacturing solutions.
Define functional requirements for machine integration, manufacturing data collection, process monitoring, adaptive controls, traceability, and future MES connectivity.
Lead equipment acceptance, commissioning, qualification, capability validation, and production ramp-up activities.
Serve as the primary technical liaison across engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and global manufacturing organizations to resolve complex technical issues and drive continuous improvement.
Mentor engineers and production personnel while providing technical leadership and guidance to support business and operational goals.