Senior Advanced Manufacturing Engineer- Robotics

GE Appliances, a Haier company•Louisville, KY

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Advanced Manufacturing Engineer- Robotics manages and executes capital equipment and manufacturing process projects supporting new product introductions (NPI), cost-out initiatives, and plant improvements. The role serves as a liaison between programs and plant operations, ensuring plant priorities and objectives are understood and considered for the areas owned by the engineer. The position is primarily based in Louisville, Kentucky, with travel to other locations as needed. The engineer provides robotics, electrical, instrumentation, and test-system expertise to plan, specify, develop, and implement appropriately scaled manufacturing and test equipment. Responsibilities may span manufacturing and warehouse facilities and include managing robotic and control portions of capital equipment projects, from specifications and supplier management through purchase, installation, and qualification. The engineer participates in Production Preparation Process (3P), works with cross-functional teams on value-stream-compatible equipment and processes, and uses data and statistics to characterize test-process capability. The role ensures equipment complies with applicable industry and governmental EHS standards and applies Human Organizational Performance principles to protect operators. It also develops mockups and prototypes, supports Lean Manufacturing, ergonomic design, and Total Productive Maintenance, investigates automation technologies, advises teams on safety and system testing, contributes to Industry 4.0 continuous improvement, and works with design teams to consider Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA) and Design for Testability (DFT). The primary schedule is first shift, although occasional support on weekends and second or third shifts may be necessary. Work takes place in a high-volume manufacturing environment and involves frequent walking, working around heavy equipment, and potentially lifting materials and products up to 30 pounds. Safety equipment, including eye protection, hearing protectors, work boots, and hard hats, is required. GE Appliances states that it offers flexibility to work with a leader on an arrangement that balances individual, team, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
At least 5 years of hands-on experience with manufacturing equipment and processes.
Experience managing capital equipment procurement projects, including specification development, supplier selection, technical reviews, installation, and qualification.
Prior experience in a large-scale manufacturing environment.
Experience with Lean manufacturing principles.
Ability to work with large cross-functional teams and at multiple organizational levels, including salaried employees, shop-floor operators, and skilled trades team members.
Good communication skills, including the ability to provide program report-outs to cross-functional teams.
Good organizational, project-management, and presentation skills for interacting with people across the organization and with suppliers and vendors.
Demonstrated ability to own cross-functional program deliverables and drive decisions based on overall company benefit.
Legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and able to maintain that authorization without current or future employer or school sponsorship; GE Appliances will not sponsor employment-based visas for this position.
Ability to travel to other locations as needed.
Ability to support occasional work on weekends and second or third shifts.
Ability to meet the physical and safety conditions of the role, including frequent walking in a manufacturing plant, working around heavy equipment, potentially lifting up to 30 pounds, and using required safety equipment.

Nice To Haves

GE Appliances program graduate (SCDP or AEDP) is strongly preferred.
Experience implementing Lean process improvement in a manufacturing operation.
Prior new product introduction (NPI) program experience.
Six Sigma certification.
Proficiency in MS Office, MS Scheduler or equivalent, and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

Plan, specify, develop, and implement right-sized manufacturing and test equipment, drawing on robotics, electrical, instrumentation, and test-system expertise.
Manage robotic and control portions of capital equipment projects supporting new product designs, factory capacity or efficiency additions, and quality improvements, including specifications, supplier management, purchasing, installation, and qualification.
Participate in Production Preparation Process (3P) to develop workstations, test equipment, and processes.
Coordinate cross-functional efforts to ensure instrumentation, equipment, and processes suit the value stream, including equipment sizing, workstation design, product presentation, standard work, and single-piece flow.
Use data and statistics to characterize test-process capabilities and qualify the release of test and manufacturing equipment.
Ensure factory equipment complies with applicable industry standards and governmental environmental, health, and safety requirements.
Apply Human Organizational Performance principles to implement equipment and processes with operator health and safety in mind.
Develop mockups and prototypes to validate designs and obtain shop-floor confirmation.
Work with functional leaders to support Lean Manufacturing, ergonomic design, and Total Productive Maintenance initiatives.
Work with factory operations and Lean teams to understand value streams and assess project impacts.
Consider material flow, workstation setup, and model mix when designing workstations and equipment.
Investigate manufacturing technologies and automation and recommend applicable options to quality and business leaders.
Guide cross-functional team members on safety, performance, and reliability testing systems.
Contribute technical and project experience to the Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 teams’ knowledge and continuous improvement efforts.
Work with design teams to consider Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DFMA) and Design for Testability (DFT) in part design.
Manage capital equipment procurement projects, including specification development, supplier selection, technical reviews, installation, and equipment qualification.
Provide program updates and communicate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, vendors, and stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
Take ownership of cross-functional program deliverables and drive decisions based on overall company benefit.