Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer leads and mentors a small engineering team while driving process development and continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role focuses on optimizing manufacturing output, scaling and setting up production lines, and resolving escalated production issues on the manufacturing floor. The engineer collaborates closely with production, engineering, quality, and operations teams to ensure products and facility output meet performance, quality, and delivery goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and direct an engineering team that includes a mechanical designer, a manufacturing engineer, and multiple engineering technicians.
• Act as the primary escalation point for production issues, driving rapid containment, root cause analysis, and resolution.
• Work predominantly on the manufacturing floor to understand process gaps, equipment challenges, and material flow issues, and implement effective solutions.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues directly on the floor to minimize downtime and maintain stable output.
• Design, implement, and refine manufacturing processes for inverter assembly to improve quality, throughput, and reliability.
• Lead process development efforts to optimize manufacturing output and support both project-based and escalated work items.
• Develop, document, and maintain standard work instructions to ensure process repeatability, safety, and product quality.
• Lead the setup, validation, and optimization of production lines and work cells, including scaling existing lines and establishing new lines.
• Identify bottlenecks in production and drive improvements using lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methods.
• Improve cycle time, labor efficiency, and first-pass yield through data-driven analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with design engineering to improve product manufacturability and ensure smooth transition from design to production.
• Work directly with the team to translate engineering bills of materials (EBOMs) into manufacturing bills of materials (MBOMs) in a PLM-integrated environment.
• Support production ramp-ups by removing constraints, stabilizing processes, and ensuring robust line performance.
• Coach and demonstrate lean manufacturing techniques to production and engineering staff.
• Collaborate regularly with leadership and department heads to communicate progress on high-priority projects and operational goals.
• Contribute to building a scalable manufacturing engineering function, including mentoring junior engineers and supporting project management activities.
• Utilize Manufacturing Execution System (MES) integration and ERP tools to improve material consumption accuracy, routing, and work order management.
• Design fixtures and layouts using 3D CAD tools to support efficient, safe, and high-quality manufacturing operations.
• Apply kanban and other visual management systems to support material flow, inventory control, and production scheduling.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, preferably Electrical Engineering, with consideration for Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in a relevant technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in a fast-paced manufacturing engineering role.
• Strong manufacturing engineering background with demonstrated experience in process development and optimization.
• Proven ability to translate EBOMs to MBOMs in a PLM-integrated environment.
• Strong working knowledge of NetSuite ERP for routing, operations, and work order management.
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution System (MES) integration in a production environment.
• Proficiency in Creo (3D CAD) for designing fixtures, layouts, and validating product manufacturability.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Demonstrated expertise in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to lead setup, validation, and optimization of production lines and work cells.
• Strong skills in structured problem solving to improve cycle time, labor efficiency, and first-pass yield.
• Experience developing and maintaining standard work instructions to support consistent quality and repeatable processes.

• Experience mentoring junior engineers and supporting the development of a scalable manufacturing engineering function.
• background in inverter assembly or similar complex electro-mechanical product manufacturing.
• Familiarity with kanban systems and visual management tools for material flow and production control.
• Experience with project management in a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Knowledge of material consumption accuracy practices and methods to reduce waste and variance.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with production, engineering, quality, and operations teams and to provide clear updates to leadership.
• Ability to work both independently with a high degree of autonomy and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
• Motivation to contribute in a rapidly growing organization with opportunities for long-term career growth, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.

This role primarily supports a new manufacturing facility and involves working approximately 70% of the time on the manufacturing floor and 30% in an office environment. The position operates in a fast-paced production setting with frequent interaction with production lines, equipment, and materials. You will regularly collaborate with cross-functional teams in production, engineering, quality, and operations, using tools such as NetSuite ERP, MES systems, and Creo CAD. The environment values teamwork, continuous improvement, and autonomy, offering a long-term direct opportunity with potential for bonuses, holiday and vacation time, and benefits. The dress code aligns with a typical manufacturing and engineering setting, including appropriate safety and personal protective equipment as required on the production floor.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Simpsonville, SC.

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $53.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Simpsonville,SC.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.