Manufacturing Engineer

Wabtec•Kansas City, MO

10d•$62,100 - $85,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineer works with cross-functional internal teams—including Operations, Manufacturing, Product Engineering, Design Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, EHS, Supply Chain, Finance, and Leadership—and external partners to improve manufacturing performance. The role supports process improvements, new product introductions, capital projects, equipment installations, and automation initiatives. It contributes to safety, quality, productivity, cost performance, production flow, equipment reliability, manufacturing data accuracy, and long-term operational improvement. The engineer optimizes facility layouts, production flow, machine operations, tooling, and processes; troubleshoots production issues; develops standard work and labor standards; analyzes operational data; and maintains accurate bills of materials and manufacturing data in Oracle ERP. The role leads production implementation for new products, supports manufacturing readiness and validation, and serves as an engineering liaison for product launches and ongoing production. The position leads capital projects from concept through closeout, including justification, budgeting, procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup. It designs, programs, troubleshoots, and supports industrial control systems and automation equipment, while coordinating suppliers, contractors, and system integrators. The engineer also leads structured problem-solving and continuous improvement, supports quality, environmental, health, and safety requirements, and provides technical leadership under general direction. Work is performed in a combination of office and manufacturing environments, including regular exposure to manufacturing, warehouse, and shipping operations. The role requires frequent use of a computer and standard office equipment, as well as regular visits to production areas. The position is based at 4800 Deramus Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120, with a Monday–Friday schedule.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited four-year college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 2–4 years of Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering experience in a heavy manufacturing environment.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles, FMEA/PFMEA, Gemba activities, Root Cause Analysis, A3 Problem Solving, SMED, TPM, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Proficiency with CAD software such as Creo, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar platforms.
Knowledge of tooling design, machine design, manufacturing processes, and production improvement techniques.
Working knowledge of conventional and CNC machining, robotics, metal forming, metallurgy, and assembly operations.
Experience developing labor standards, optimizing plant layouts, and improving manufacturing processes.
Experience leading capital projects from concept through implementation, including budgeting, procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup.
Experience with industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, robotics, and automated manufacturing equipment.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Experience working with vendors, contractors, equipment suppliers, and system integrators.
Ability to regularly walk through manufacturing and production areas; frequently stand, walk, bend, reach, and climb stairs; and occasionally climb ladders.
Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds periodically and move materials or equipment as necessary.
Ability to work around moving machinery, noise, temperature variations, vibration, welding operations, and airborne particles, and to use PPE and comply with safety requirements.
Ability to sit at a workstation and use a computer for extended periods.

Responsibilities

Optimize facility layouts, production flow, machine operations, tooling, and manufacturing processes to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
Troubleshoot equipment and process issues, develop corrective actions, and implement sustainable improvements in support of daily production.
Develop, document, and maintain standard work, labor standards, manufacturing procedures, and process controls.
Evaluate machine performance, equipment reliability, and manufacturing efficiency, identifying opportunities for improvement.
Analyze production and operational data to identify trends, improve performance, and support management decisions.
Estimate production times, staffing requirements, capacities, and associated costs for operational planning.
Create, update, and maintain Bills of Materials in Oracle ERP, ensuring accuracy and alignment with engineering designs and production requirements.
Validate and maintain material, labor, and resource data in BOMs and routings; audit manufacturing data and resolve discrepancies affecting production, inventory, planning, and costing.
Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to implement product and process changes.
Lead new-product production implementation and partner with Product and Design Engineering to establish routings, tooling, labor standards, and process readiness.
Serve as the engineering liaison for quality and manufacturing activities related to product launches, process validation, and ongoing production support.
Lead CAPEX projects from concept through closeout, including appropriation development, budgeting, justification, procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup.
Design, program, troubleshoot, and support industrial control systems, including PLCs, HMIs, drives, sensors, robotics, and automated manufacturing equipment.
Coordinate machinery installations, equipment upgrades, production-line improvements, and automation initiatives.
Coordinate with equipment suppliers, contractors, integrators, and vendors on equipment selection, procurement, project support, installation, and issue resolution; monitor supplier performance and delivery.
Manage project plans, schedules, resources, risks, and performance metrics to support successful project delivery.
Lead structured problem-solving using DFMEA, PFMEA, Root Cause Analysis, A3, Lean Manufacturing, SMED, TPM, and 5S methodologies.
Drive continuous improvement to reduce waste, improve throughput, increase equipment effectiveness, and enhance product quality.
Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Safety teams on productivity and reliability improvements.
Ensure engineering activities comply with company quality standards, environmental requirements, and health and safety policies; support EHS and QMS requirements through documentation and coordination.
Promote a safe working environment and support compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations and waste-minimization initiatives.
Provide technical leadership through collaboration, innovation, problem-solving, and communication; manage assigned projects and engineering initiatives under general direction and escalate unusual or complex issues as appropriate.