Manufacturing Engineer - Cost Specialist

Howmet Aerospace•Laporte, IN

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer with a strong automotive background who is ready to bring their expertise into a new industry. This role is ideal for an engineer who understands high‑volume production, cost‑driven decision‑making, and disciplined process control — and is looking to apply those strengths in a fresh environment with new challenges and technologies. If you excel at building the cost of manufacturing a component from the ground up, optimizing processes, and driving measurable improvements, you’ll thrive here. Role Overview As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will take ownership of production processes, cost structures, and continuous improvement initiatives for a key product area. You’ll apply your automotive experience — including workflow optimization, cost modeling, and quality‑focused engineering — to help us strengthen efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall manufacturing performance. This role is perfect for someone who wants to broaden their industry experience while still leveraging the technical and financial skills developed in automotive manufacturing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in automotive or other high‑volume production
Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures and component cost modeling
Experience with process improvement, workflow optimization, and structured problem‑solving
Ability to interpret engineering drawings and understand manufacturing requirements
Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills
Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.

Nice To Haves

Experience transitioning between industries or supporting diverse product lines
Background in tooling, fixtures, or equipment improvement
Familiarity with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies
Strong financial literacy and comfort presenting cost‑based recommendations

Responsibilities

Build complete manufacturing cost models for components, including labor, materials, equipment, tooling, overhead, and process flow.
Analyze cost drivers and identify opportunities for reduction through process changes, tooling improvements, workflow adjustments, or sourcing strategies.
Support leadership with clear, data‑based cost insights to guide investment decisions and operational priorities.
Partner with cross‑functional teams to validate cost assumptions and ensure alignment with production realities.
Evaluate current manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, throughput, and consistency.
Apply automotive‑grade problem‑solving and continuous improvement methods to reduce waste and strengthen process reliability.
Lead improvement projects focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Support the development of standard work, process documentation, and training materials.
Provide hands‑on engineering support to resolve production issues and maintain stable operations.
Collaborate with operations, quality, maintenance, and supply chain to ensure smooth workflow and timely issue resolution.
Monitor key performance indicators and help teams understand daily progress toward goals.
Support tooling and equipment improvements that enhance quality, reduce cost, or simplify production.
Participate in equipment evaluations, vendor discussions, and implementation of new technologies.
Assist with capital project justification through cost modeling and operational impact analysis.
Translate automotive best practices into new manufacturing environments.
Bring fresh perspective to process discipline, cost control, and high‑volume production methodologies.
Help build stronger systems, documentation, and workflows by applying proven automotive approaches.