Manufacturing Production Process Engineer III

Daimler Truck North America • Detroit, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Provide manufacturing engineering support for Detroit Axle Carrier Assembly operations, including NFD and advanced classic M2/M4 carrier assembly. The role focuses on hands-on troubleshooting and improving highly automated manufacturing and assembly processes to achieve production, quality, equipment-performance, and SQDCM targets. The engineer leads structured problem solving and continuous-improvement efforts, taking assigned issues from identification through root-cause analysis, corrective action, validation, and sustainable closure. The position works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, supervisors, technical teams, and hourly employees, and maintains effective shift-to-shift handoffs for open issues.

The engineer develops process documentation and standardized work; supports equipment and tooling installation, qualification, and process validation; and improves reliability, capability, throughput, first-time quality, labor efficiency, OEE, and cost. The role also uses digitalization, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve data collection, troubleshooting, and fact-based decision-making, while auditing standards and mentoring fellow engineers.

This is an onsite position in Detroit, Michigan. Relocation assistance is not available. The starting salary range is $108,000–$139,000 USD, depending on knowledge, skills, and experience. The position is not open to visa sponsorship or existing visa holders; applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country where the position is located. Final candidates must complete a criminal background check and may be required to complete a pre-employment drug screen.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering or Engineering Technology.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, automated equipment, and shop-floor troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of Bills of Material (BOM), PFMEA, Control Plans, standardized work, and applicable quality management system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Experience in manufacturing process development within a cross-functional or integrated team environment.
• Practical knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and project-management methodologies.
• Ability to analyze manufacturing data and translate findings into practical corrective actions and sustainable process improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project, or equivalent project-management tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate across hourly, technical, engineering, and leadership teams.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a positive, collaborative, accountable, and safety-focused working culture.
• Legally authorized to work permanently in the country where the position is located; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Strong working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), GR&R, PFMEA/FMEA, and process capability analysis (Cp/Cpk).
• Experience supporting CNC machining, robotic machining, cold forming/stamping, automated assembly, or other highly automated manufacturing systems.
• Experience diagnosing and improving OEE, downtime, cycle time, scrap, throughput, and quality performance.
• CNC or robot programming experience and ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications.
• Experience using digital manufacturing, visualization, Power BI, data analytics, or AI tools to identify trends, troubleshoot problems, and improve operational performance.
• Working knowledge of Maximo and PRISMA.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated documentation, record-keeping, organizational, and project follow-through skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, coach, and motivate production and technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide manufacturing engineering expertise and daily production support for Detroit Axle NFD and advanced classic M2/M4 carrier assembly operations.
• Troubleshoot complex equipment and process issues on the shop floor, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and verify sustainable closure.
• Lead Problem Solving Projects (PPS), structured problem solving, and continuous-improvement initiatives to meet Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM) objectives.
• Take ownership of chronic downtime, quality, scrap, cycle-time, and equipment-performance issues, using data-driven methods and cross-functional collaboration.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering to improve OEE, equipment reliability, process capability, labor efficiency, throughput, and first-time quality.
• Develop and execute projects that support company SQDCM targets and reduce costs through scrap elimination, cycle-time improvement, efficiency gains, OEE improvement, and process optimization.
• Develop and maintain PFMEAs, Control Plans, process documentation, and standardized work.
• Lead equipment and tooling installation, qualification, and process validation, including applicable MSA, GR&R, process stability and capability studies (Cp/Cpk), and equipment/process matching.
• Develop and use digitalization, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve data collection, accelerate troubleshooting, identify trends, and support fact-based decisions.
• Audit, teach, and reinforce manufacturing standards and best practices.
• Mentor and develop fellow engineers, building technical understanding of existing processes and supporting the design, development, and launch of new or improved processes.
• Work directly with line supervisors, technical support teams, and hourly employees to reinforce process discipline, standardized work, production requirements, and performance targets.
• Maintain effective shift-to-shift handoffs to provide transparency, clear ownership, and continuity of open issues.

Benefits

• Annual bonus program.
• 401(k) company contribution with company match up to 6%, plus a non-elective company contribution of 3–7% depending on age.
• Starting at four weeks of paid vacation.
• 13 or more calendar holidays.
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave.
• Employee assistance program.
• Comprehensive healthcare plans.
• Wellness programs.
• Onsite fitness facilities at some locations.
• Tuition assistance.
• Paid volunteer time off.
• Short-term and long-term disability plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior