Manufacturing Engineer

Smart LLC•Fontana, CA

12h•$105,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

Chemical Guys (CG) is more than a brand. It's a lifestyle with a worldwide following driven by adventure, a passion for shine, and a love for the road ahead. We welcome Any and All who share this passion to become part of our CG Family. When we started, we decided to wipe the slate clean and begin fresh with the simple idea to make the best quality auto-detailing chemicals manufactured right here in California to the highest quality standards. Over the years, we have grown into so much more: a huge library of detailing knowledge, a benchmark in the industry, and a group of friends with one common passion. Today, Chemical Guys has become a true omnichannel leader in the automotive appearance industry with a massive social media following and product distribution around the world. But this is still just the beginning. We want to win in the long run, drive innovation, and refine the industry while having fun along with you. So, grab a wash mitt, some soap, put that great smile on your face, and don't look back, it's going to be an unforgettable ride! Position Summary The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for driving process optimization, throughput improvement, labor efficiency, and operational scalability within a high SKU mix manufacturing and kitting environment focused primarily on manual assembly operations. This role serves as the technical and process engineering partner to Production, leading initiatives focused on standard work, material flow, workstation design, cycle time reduction, quality improvement, and operational efficiency. The Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in building scalable manufacturing systems capable of supporting both make-to-stock and make-to-order production environments while improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. Working closely with Production, Planning, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain, this role is responsible for identifying and implementing process improvements that increase throughput, reduce operational waste, improve labor productivity, and support long-term operational growth. Key Responsibilities Analyze and improve manufacturing and kitting processes to increase throughput, efficiency, and operational capacity. Identify and eliminate bottlenecks impacting production flow and schedule adherence. Lead initiatives focused on cycle time reduction, labor optimization, and process stability. Develop scalable manufacturing processes to support high SKU complexity and operational growth. Develop, implement, and maintain standardized work instructions and operational procedures. Drive operational discipline through visual management systems, process documentation, and workflow controls. Conduct time studies, labor analysis, and process observations to optimize staffing and labor utilization. Design and improve workstations, assembly layouts, and ergonomic processes to improve operator efficiency and safety. Improve material flow across manufacturing and kitting operations to reduce inefficiencies. Partner with Production leadership to improve operational KPIs including throughput, labor productivity, OEE, defect rates, and schedule adherence. Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, cost savings, quality improvement, and operational scalability. Partner with Quality and Production teams to identify and eliminate process-related defects and inefficiencies. Collaborate closely with Production, Maintenance, Planning, and Supply Chain to improve operational performance. What This Role Owns Manufacturing process optimization and workflow design Standard work development and process documentation Throughput and labor efficiency improvement initiatives Cycle time reduction and line balancing Material flow optimization and operational scalability Continuous improvement and Lean implementation Process-related KPI analysis and operational improvement initiatives Key Success Metrics Throughput improvement, Labor productivity improvement, Cycle time reduction, OEE improvement support, Defect reduction and process consistency, Material flow efficiency, Schedule adherence support, Sustained 5S and Lean process implementation, Cost reduction through process optimization and waste elimination

Requirements

3–7+ years of Manufacturing Engineering or Industrial Engineering experience in high-mix manufacturing or assembly environments.
Experience supporting manual assembly, kitting, packaging, or fulfillment operations preferred.
Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, visual management, standard work, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience conducting time studies, labor analysis, and workflow optimization.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.
Experience improving throughput, labor productivity, and operational performance in fast-paced manufacturing environments.
Familiarity with ERP systems, production reporting tools, and operational KPI tracking preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyze and improve manufacturing and kitting processes to increase throughput, efficiency, and operational capacity.
Identify and eliminate bottlenecks impacting production flow and schedule adherence.
Lead initiatives focused on cycle time reduction, labor optimization, and process stability.
Develop scalable manufacturing processes to support high SKU complexity and operational growth.
Develop, implement, and maintain standardized work instructions and operational procedures.
Drive operational discipline through visual management systems, process documentation, and workflow controls.
Conduct time studies, labor analysis, and process observations to optimize staffing and labor utilization.
Design and improve workstations, assembly layouts, and ergonomic processes to improve operator efficiency and safety.
Improve material flow across manufacturing and kitting operations to reduce inefficiencies.
Partner with Production leadership to improve operational KPIs including throughput, labor productivity, OEE, defect rates, and schedule adherence.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, cost savings, quality improvement, and operational scalability.
Partner with Quality and Production teams to identify and eliminate process-related defects and inefficiencies.
Collaborate closely with Production, Maintenance, Planning, and Supply Chain to improve operational performance.