Manufacturing Engineer I
Protolabs•Brooklyn Park, MN
•$69,500 - $86,900
About The Position
The Manufacturing Engineer I helps optimize manufacturing processes, improve product quality, and drive operational efficiency. The role collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop cost-effective manufacturing solutions, troubleshoot production challenges, analyze data, and support continuous improvement. It contributes to process development, lean manufacturing activities, quality enhancements, tooling strategies, and production improvements.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
- 0–1 year of relevant professional engineering experience.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information across organizational levels and present data clearly.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with familiarity with tools such as FMEA, Pareto, and Cause & Effect diagrams.
- Strong attention to detail and experience managing project documents and producing quality content.
- Ability to take initiative and work independently.
- Self-motivated and self-directed, with a high sense of urgency.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Strong time management skills and ability to work within project frameworks with defined deliverables and time frames.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or foreign national granted refugee or asylee status; individuals with temporary visas are not eligible.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of kaizen and lean manufacturing techniques.
- Knowledge of CAD software, machining, and molding technology.
- Background or working knowledge of machining and/or injection molding.
- Experience working in a continuous improvement environment.
Responsibilities
- Work on cross-disciplinary teams to develop and improve manufacturing processes.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and opportunities to expand capabilities using data analysis, brainstorming, and other techniques.
- Develop competing concepts and apply analytical techniques to support decisions.
- Design and develop tooling strategies for new processes.
- Assist with research, design, and development of manufacturing processes, including production flow, assembly methods, and production equipment.
- Troubleshoot production problems and identify manufacturing bottlenecks, quality issues, and potential design improvements or alternatives.
- Assist management in improving production control, standard operating procedures, safety, quality control, and training.
- Participate in and promote lean manufacturing initiatives.
- Work with quality engineering to facilitate process and quality improvements.
- Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
- Comprehend and leverage statistical data with assistance.
- Conduct lean activities with guidance, such as kaizen and 5S events.
- Design and conduct experiments and analyze and interpret data.
Benefits
- Health insurance, including traditional and high-deductible plans.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Health savings account with employer contributions.
- Dental and vision insurance.
- Basic and supplemental life insurance.
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
- Paid caregiver leave.
- At least three weeks of PTO, wellness time, holiday pay, and volunteer hours.
- 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting.
- Employee stock purchase program at a discounted rate.
- Matching grants through the Protolabs Foundation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
