Manufacturing Engineer - Molding (2nd Shift)

Summit Polymers, Inc.•Vicksburg, MI

About The Position

This hands-on technical role supports injection molding of plastic parts for automotive interior trim, including full center consoles and kinetic parts. Under general supervision, the Manufacturing Engineer provides technical support and leadership to production teams, emphasizing operational excellence. The work covers injection mold processing, molding automation and end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), and injection mold tooling. The role typically requires less than 5% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar technical discipline, or five years of experience in a technical position in an injection molding environment may be considered.
Knowledge of scientific injection molding and hands-on mold process development ability.
Knowledge of molding automation and EOAT, with hands-on molding robot programming ability.
Knowledge of injection mold design, including the ability to read and critique drawings and contribute to high-quality mold designs.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Independent thinking and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Flexibility and ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Agreement to complete all required post-hire training.
Minimum Wonderlic Select Assessment score of 50 (traditional score of 26 on the cognitive portion).

Nice To Haves

Krauss Maffei and VanDorn molding machine experience.
Wittmann robot experience.
Knowledge of gas-assist, sequential valve gate processing, applique insert molding, and two-shot or multi-material molding technologies.

Responsibilities

Participate in developing molding tools and processes for new products, including part design input and output reviews and injection mold design reviews.
Optimize part and mold designs for quality, robust tooling conditions, and mold processability; review mold size, press requirements, manifolds, valve gates, runners, gates, mold actions, cooling, ejection, parting lines, venting, and engraving.
Develop molding automation plans and tooling; specify and procure EOAT, degators, nesting, and other secondary equipment, including design and construction or external sourcing as needed.
Participate in injection mold trials at sample facilities; support master mold process development, mold critique, and corrective action plans for new molds.
Lead introduction of molding tools and processes at the manufacturing plant and coordinate with plant staff to ensure required facilities and equipment are available.
Identify issues with injection molds, secondary equipment, molding machines, and auxiliary equipment, and work with program and plant teams to resolve them.
Develop robust molding processes for plant-specific machines based on master molding processes.
Implement molding automation by adjusting EOAT and degators, programming robots, and interfacing with press peripheral equipment.
Document and control molding process setup sheets, process verification sheets, and robot programs.
Develop Operator Instruction Sheets and support Quality Inspection Standards so production personnel can work safely and meet quality and productivity requirements.
Coordinate entry of molds, EOAT, and degators into the preventive maintenance system and develop preventive maintenance instructions.
Work with the SLMS Engineer to develop internal mold-store packaging that supports efficient labor and automation and safe, defect-free storage, transport, and handling in accordance with packaging standards and best practices.
Provide mold-specific setup and operational training to mold technicians, supervisors, utilities/operators, and managers; oversee mold changes, startups, and production until safety and proficiency are achieved.
Coordinate engineering changes to molds and molding secondary equipment with project engineering.
Support production-team performance and improve safety, quality, and efficiency across molding operations.
Use practical problem solving, kaizen, and scientific molding methods to address production needs.
Troubleshoot tooling, process, and equipment problems in collaboration with tooling and maintenance teams; work with maintenance to assess molding machine capability.
Lead cycle-time, scrap, regrind, mold-change-time, and purge-reduction activities and develop justifications for process improvement projects.
Conduct layered process audits to verify compliance with process setup and verification, standardized work, and quality-system requirements.
Contribute to molding-room safety by promptly correcting unsafe conditions involving molding systems and related equipment or housekeeping; model safe behavior.