About this role
JOB DESCRIPTION
Key Responsibilities
1. Stakeholder Collaboration & Product Development
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between customers, suppliers, and internal engineering teams. • Support and influence product development for seat assembly, overhead systems, door assembly, and welding processes (MIG, TIG, resistance). • Participate in design reviews and recommend design, material, and process alternatives to improve manufacturability, quality, and cost.
2. Process Innovation & Implementation
• Design, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes for metal forming, welding, assembly, and urethane production, including tooling, equipment, and process controls. • Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) to control process variability and ensure consistent production of salable parts. • Support development from prototype builds through launch and full production. • Pilot new manufacturing technologies, including automation and robotics, and perform ROI analyses to support plant goals.
3. Manufacturing Studies & Cost Optimization
• Conduct manufacturing feasibility studies to assess cost drivers, quality risks, and inventory impact. • Determine the most efficient combination of materials, processes, and equipment to achieve cost and quality targets. • Recommend process, material, tooling, or equipment changes to improve productivity, quality, and profitability. • Prepare economic justifications for new equipment or process improvements and evaluate new technologies.
4. Tooling & Equipment Strategy
• Lead or support tooling and equipment selection, approval, validation, and implementation. • Coordinate with vendors regarding timelines, technical requirements, installation, and troubleshooting. • Ensure equipment capability meets production volume, quality, and safety requirements.
5. Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing
• Champion Lean Manufacturing initiatives, including line balancing, OEE improvement, quick changeover, weld cell utilization, and labor efficiency (jobs/hour). • Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for process deviations while maintaining design and quality standards. • Collaborate closely with Quality and Industrial Engineering teams to continuously improve manufacturing performance.
6. Cross‑Functional Leadership & Communication
• Develop and deliver training for new or updated manufacturing processes. • Maintain clear communication with stakeholders through operating instructions, regular updates, and project status reporting. • Act as a subject-matter expert for process troubleshooting, change management, and technology integration.
7. Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)
• Support environmental protection, personal safety, pollution prevention, and continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System. • Provide leadership during launches to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and TCEQ standards. • Proactively monitor the workplace for environmental, health, and safety hazards and ensure corrective actions are implemented. • Participate in accident, near‑miss, and incident investigations and ensure timely completion of all incident reports. • Exercise stop‑work authority to prevent unsafe acts or conditions when necessary.
Qualifications
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field required.
Experience
• 1-2 years of experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment, preferably automotive. • Experience in line balancing and fast‑paced manufacturing operations. • Knowledge of manufacturing processes, machine capabilities, and raw material characteristics. • Experience coordinating with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Industrial Engineering teams.
Technical Skills
• Familiarity with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) principles. • Exposure to PLCs (Siemens, Mitsubishi, Allen‑Bradley preferred) is a plus. • Lean Manufacturing training or certification preferred. • Familiarity with the Toyota Production System (TPS) strongly preferred. • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
PRIMARY LOCATION
Avanzar San Antonio Facility