Manufacturing Process Engineer (Entry Level)

SCHLUTER SYSTEMS L.P.•Town of Plattsburgh, NY

87d

About The Position

The Manufacturing Process Engineer (Entry Level) is an engineering role focused on building foundational experience in manufacturing systems, tools, and processes. Working under the guidance of senior engineers or team leads, the Engineer supports day-to-day engineering tasks related to production operations, continuous improvement efforts, and process documentation. This role provides exposure to core manufacturing functions including production support, data collection, root cause analysis assistance, and the development of standard work and process documentation. The Engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams such as Maintenance, Quality, Purchasing, R&D, EH&S, and Operations to learn how engineering contributes to safety, efficiency, and product quality in a production environment. Team members are expected to demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and professionalism while gaining hands-on experience in troubleshooting, lean principles, and plant operations. This role lays the groundwork for career advancement through active learning, consistent contribution, and participation in team-driven initiatives.

Requirements

0–2 years of experience in manufacturing, process, or production engineering (internships, co-ops, or equivalent project work accepted).
Hands-on exposure to process improvement, production troubleshooting, and data-driven problem solving.
Strong Communication and Interpersonal skills
A “hands-on” self-starter with strong collaboration and organizational skills.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (word, powerpoint, excel, visio)
Willingness to adapt and learn new skills to increase efficiency
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Engineering

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Lean principles, standard work documentation, and collaboration with cross-functional production teams is preferred.
Exposure to ERP or MES systems.
Experience interpreting technical drawings, P&IDs, or CAD models.
Basic understanding of PFMEA, control plans, and validation processes.
Prior engagement with packaging or assembly operations (manual or automated).
Experience collaborating with maintenance or automation teams on equipment performance or reliability issues.
Familiarity with health and safety regulations

Responsibilities

Assist in documenting existing production processes and standard work instructions.
Participate in time studies, line balancing exercises, and workflow observations.
Support the drafting and maintenance of standard operating procedures, visual aids, and process maps.
Help collect process performance data (e.g., cycle time, yield) under the supervision of more experienced engineers.
Identify simple process inefficiencies and report observations to senior engineers.
Contribute to kaizen events and continuous improvement activities by gathering data and implementing basic changes.
Learn and apply lean manufacturing concepts such as 5S, waste identification, and standard work.
Learn and understand basic manufacturing processes, production equipment, and material handling techniques.
Observe/learn troubleshooting and problem-solving techniques used by experienced engineers and technicians.
Collaborate with production and maintenance staff to gain a hands-on understanding of shop floor operations.
Become familiar with fundamental engineering tools and documents such as standard operating procedures and work instructions.
Participate in basic time studies and process observations to identify inefficiencies or variations.
Develop entry-level competency in tools such as excel, CAD, and ERP/MES systems relevant to process engineering.
Attend technical training and shadow engineering teams to build foundational knowledge.
Contribute to technical documentation updates and continuous improvement projects at an introductory level.
Take ownership of and demonstrate reliability in completing assigned tasks or components within projects under the supervision of senior engineers (e.g. trial runs, SOP updates, data gathering), seeking feedback for improvement.
Communicates progress clearly with cross-functional peers and asks questions proactively
Participate in team discussions and department meetings, gradually building confidence in voicing ideas and asking strategic questions.
Begin developing project planning and organization skills through exposure to strategies, project scopes, timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
Take personal responsibility for learning new tools, systems, and engineering principles and knowledge that support strategic execution.
Model professionalism, safety awareness, and continuous learning for peers and technicians on the shop floor.
Actively engage in onboarding and orientation activities to build foundational understanding of plant operations, safety, and team expectations.
Learn core engineering principles and internal processes. Show consistent progress in technical skills, communication, and reliability through active participation and engagement.
Document and report simple process metrics and test data.
Participate in assigned technical and procedural training, including SOPs, process documentation, and basic Lean principles. Take initiative in understanding key tools and systems such as CAD software, ERP systems, and data collection platforms. Develop learning milestones in collaboration with a manager or mentor.
Participate in lean and continuous improvement activities (5S, Kaizen, waste walks)
Shadow experienced engineers and technicians during problem-solving initiatives and to observe manufacturing processes and learn hands-on applications.
Participate in cross-functional team meetings to build awareness of how engineering supports production, maintenance, quality, and logistics. Contribute to team knowledge sharing by documenting learnings and assisting in updates to work instructions or procedures.
Seek mentorship for performance and career guidance. Ask questions and seek feedback regularly to accelerate learning and clarify responsibilities. Demonstrate openness to coaching and constructive feedback as part of performance development.
Support collaborative efforts with suppliers to resolve issues related to materials, components, or equipment.
Work under the guidance of senior engineers to support cross-functional tasks involving Production, Maintenance and Quality.
Communicate clearly with operators, technicians, and supervisors to gather feedback and understand production needs.
Attend daily production or engineering team meetings to build understanding of workflows.
Shadow cross-functional project teams to learn how Engineering integrates with other departments.
Foster positive relationships with peers and cross-department contacts through reliable support and active listening.
Ask questions and seek input from team members across functions to build cross-functional awareness.
Demonstrate responsiveness, respect, and a learning mindset in all collaborative interactions.
Develop fundamental knowledge of federal, state & local regulatory requirements (e.g., OSHA, NYS-DEC) and internal policies and procedures.
Support safety, quality and regulatory initiatives.
Participate in compliance audits by supporting data collection and observation.
Support quality control procedures by helping with inspection, documentation, and defect tracking tasks.
Participate in early-stage PFMEA and risk analysis discussions to understand risk identification processes.
Assist in the creation of simple checklists and job aids to support quality and safety compliance.