Manufacturing Process & Design Engineer (Hydraulic Cylinders)

Job Description

Job Description

Manufacturing Process & Design Engineer (Hydraulic Cylinders)

Department: Engineering

FLSA Status: Exempt

What your day looks like

You start by scanning the production schedule, juggling priorities based on material availability and any new constraints in the queue. You push forward the right orders, clarify specs from sales, and convert concepts into clear approval drawings for customers. On the floor, a technician flags a non-conforming part. You step in—verify dimensions, review the print, run a quick root-cause analysis, and document corrective actions. Before lunch, you update yesterday’s BOM changes, release manufacturing routers, and publish shop-ready drawings. The afternoon brings a cylinder measurement from a distributor, a Made2Manage data check, a quick AutoCAD/SolidWorks tweak to enhance manufacturability, and a time study to shave minutes off a workflow. You wrap by lining up standardized work instructions and collaborating with production and sales to ensure the next builds run cleanly.

Core impact areas

• Translate sales and job orders into accurate, compliant manufacturing packages (approval/manufacturing drawings, routers, documentation).
• Prioritize and process premium, special, and standard shop orders based on schedule, material status, and anticipated delays.
• Enter and track BOM changes from prior-day shipments; maintain traceability and revision control.
• Measure cylinders from distributors/customers for new builds or spec validation.
• Assist shop personnel with print interpretation and technical guidance; resolve real-time manufacturing issues.
• Investigate non-conformances; support root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive design improvements to cylinder performance, manufacturability, and cost-efficiency.
• Conduct time studies and workflow analysis; implement process improvements.
• Create and maintain standardized work instructions and process documentation.
• Evaluate and recommend tools, equipment, and technologies to expand capabilities.
• Assist with equipment setup, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure engineering documentation meets internal and customer quality requirements; support ISO and other QMS audits.
• Partner with customer service and sales on custom/complex orders; train and onboard production staff on new processes or design updates.
• Champion continuous improvement across safety, quality, and efficiency; participate in safety reviews and risk mitigation.
• Maintain accurate records of product changes and order modifications for full traceability.

Tools & tech you’ll use

• AutoCAD, SolidWorks, PDM
• Made2Manage ERP, Microsoft Outlook
• Excel, Internet Explorer
• Micrometers, Tape Measure, Calipers, Pitch thread gage

Qualifications

• Four-year technical degree or 2–4 years of relevant experience/training ; or an equivalent blend of education and experience.
• Vocational school training in a related field is beneficial.
• Machine shop fundamentals and blueprint fluency; mechanically inclined.
• Clear communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Language: read/interpret safety rules, O&M instructions, and procedures; write routine reports/correspondence ; present to groups of customers or employees.
• Math: probability/statistics ; plane/solid geometry and trigonometry; apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical problems.
• Reasoning: solve practical problems with limited standardization; interpret written, oral, diagram, or schedule-based instructions.

Physical demands

• Regularly: stand, walk, use hands, reach with hands/arms, talk/hear.
• Occasionally: sit; climb/balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Lift/move: occasionally up to 25+ pounds.

Work environment & safety

• Safety glasses and hard sole/close toed shoes with a low heel required in manufacturing and repair areas; tie back long hair around flame, machinery, or equipment.
• Regular exposure to moving mechanical parts; occasional exposure to fumes/airborne particles, toxic/caustic chemicals, and vibration.
• Noise level is usually moderate.

Compliance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.