Manufacturing Engineer I or II

Woodward, Inc.•Zeeland, MI

3d•$65,000 - $100,000

About The Position

Woodward is hiring a Manufacturing Engineer at Level I or Level II to support and improve manufacturing processes. The role involves production support, process ownership, capability analysis, production documentation, and project work. Level I focuses on foundational tasks and supporting improvement initiatives under supervision. Level II takes greater ownership of assigned manufacturing areas, analyzes process performance, implements localized improvements, and manages small projects under supervision. At Level I, the engineer supports troubleshooting, documents downtime trends, evaluates defective hardware for basic disposition, assists with manufacturing process documentation, collects data for process-capability evaluations, maintains production documents, and supports project tracking. The role also includes learning Lean and DFMA principles, assisting with equipment evaluation and troubleshooting, and developing technical skills with guidance from senior engineers. At Level II, the engineer monitors and analyzes production processes, implements small-scale improvements, trains operators on SOPs, and evaluates nonconforming hardware for repair, rework, or replacement. The engineer develops and maintains processes for assigned areas, uses statistical tools to assess process capability, refines production documentation and supports its transition to digital platforms, and manages small manufacturing projects under supervision. The role also applies Lean and DFMA methods, supports equipment selection and troubleshooting, and uses structured problem-solving and APQP tools to improve process stability. The position requires a four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent experience: six or more years for Level I, or eight or more years for Level II. International candidates may have a country-equivalent bachelor's degree or the corresponding equivalent experience. Aken candidates may have Certified Technician/Bachelor qualifications. Work involving information subject to ITAR and/or EAR requires applicants to be U.S. Persons or eligible to obtain required authorizations. Woodward describes a workplace built around integrity, respect, accountability, humility, and drive. The company offers a total rewards package, with salary determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market data. Estimated annual base pay is $65,000–$84,000 for Level I and $77,000–$100,000 for Level II.

Requirements

Level I: Four-year bachelor's degree (BS) or at least 6 years of equivalent experience.
Level II: Four-year bachelor's degree (BS) or at least 8 years of equivalent experience.
International qualification: bachelor's degree or university-degree equivalent by country, or the applicable equivalent experience stated for the level.
Aken qualification: Certified Technician/Bachelor.
Applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain all required authorizations.
Communication and collaboration skills.
Ability to collect, organize, and analyze manufacturing and production data.
Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of or ability to learn Lean manufacturing principles and tools.
Knowledge of or ability to apply Design for Manufacturability and Assembly principles.
Familiarity with production data tools such as spreadsheets, Pareto charts, and process control charts.
Familiarity with statistical process control and capability measures such as Cpk.
Familiarity with APQP tools and systems.
Experience with cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, or manufacturing cost optimization.
Experience with equipment evaluation, troubleshooting, or maintenance processes.

Responsibilities

Provide production technical support, troubleshoot process issues, and help maintain production workflows.
Document downtime trends and evaluate defective or nonconforming hardware for appropriate disposition, including repair, rework, replacement, or scrap as appropriate to the level.
Create, develop, maintain, and refine manufacturing processes and workflows for assigned areas.
Collect and analyze production and process-capability data, identifying inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
Maintain, create, and refine production documentation, including SOPs, process flow diagrams, and work instructions; support transition to digital documentation.
Track project milestones and documentation, support project tasks, and manage small-scale manufacturing projects under supervision.
Identify productivity improvements by assessing cycle times, throughput, scrap, setup times, waste, labor, material use, and equipment utilization.
Apply Lean manufacturing approaches, including 5S, waste identification, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping, as appropriate to level.
Apply or learn DFMA principles and collaborate with design and cross-functional teams to improve manufacturability and assembly.
Assist with equipment specification evaluation, selection, troubleshooting, performance documentation, purchase requests, vendor proposal assessment, and reliability improvements as appropriate to level.
Use structured problem-solving methods, including 5 Whys and Fishbone diagrams, to identify root causes.
Apply or learn APQP tools and support process control, tooling and fixturing evaluation or refinement, and process capability analysis.
Communicate findings, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and collaborate with operators and other roles.
Seek guidance and feedback from senior engineers at Level I; share foundational knowledge and support peer learning at Level II.

Benefits

Annual cash bonus opportunity for all members.
401(k) match of 4.5%.
Annual Woodward stock contribution of 5%.
Tuition reimbursement and training/professional development opportunities.
12 paid holidays.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance upon date of hire.
Vacation, sick time, vacation buy-up, short-term disability, and bereavement leave.
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
Member life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability coverage.
Member optional life insurance.
Member referral bonus.
Spouse/child optional life and optional AD&D insurance.
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Home and auto insurance discounts.
Whole life insurance, critical illness insurance, legal assistance, and military leave.