As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will drive operational excellence through process improvement, equipment optimization, systems integration, manufacturing support, and new product introduction activities. This role plays a critical part in transforming custom product concepts into safe, efficient, and scalable manufacturing processes. The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for analyzing and improving production processes, implementing productivity and quality enhancements, supporting new product and equipment introductions, and developing standardized work practices.
This positionpartners closely with Product Engineering, Sales, Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Production teams to evaluate manufacturability, develop production methods, establish labor standards, and support custom and project-based orders from concept through production launch. This role serves as a key link between product design and manufacturing execution, ensuring new products can be produced safely, efficiently, and profitably while meeting quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
This full-time position reports directly to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager and is located at Safco’s manufacturing plant in Milford, IA.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering resource for custom and project-based products, ensuring accurate product setup, manufacturing readiness, labor standards, and successful production launch.
- Partner with Product Engineering and Operations teams to support new product introduction (NPI) and new product development initiatives.
- Review product designs and manufacturing processes to ensure manufacturability, production readiness, quality standards, and cost effectiveness.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, routings, labor standards, work instructions, SOPs, process maps, tooling requirements, and bills of material (BOMs) for new and existing products.
- Coordinate and support prototype builds, pilot runs, and first-production launches with NPI Lead and area support roles.
- Identify and implement process improvements that enable efficient production of custom and project-based orders.
- Analyze manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
- Identifysafety and ergonomic assessments of manufacturing processes, equipment, and workstations; develop and implement solutions that reduce risk, improve operator efficiency, and support compliance with company safety standards.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Determine root causes of failures using detailed observation and statistical methods, recommend/implement changes in designs, tolerance, or processing methods.
- Provides technical expertise or support related to manufacturing in our Wood departments.
- Incorporate new methods and processes to improve existing operations.
- Troubleshoot new or existing product problems involving designs, materials or processes.
- Conduct time studies, workflow analyses, and capacity assessments to identify opportunities for increased efficiency and throughput.
- Design and implement plant layouts, material flow improvements, and workspace optimization projects.
- Train and support employees on new processes, equipment, procedures, and manufacturing best practices.
- Communicate manufacturing capabilities or other information to facilitate production processes.
- Other duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Candidates may qualify through a combination of education and relevant manufacturing engineering experience. Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and work experience will be considered.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or related field plus 3+ years of relevant manufacturing engineering experience; or
- 7+ years of progressive manufacturing experience with demonstrated expertise in:
- Bills of Material (BOMs)
- Routings
- Engineering Change Orders (ECOs)
- CAD/SolidWorks
- Manufacturing processes
- Product launches and process improvement
- Strong experience with AutoCAD, Solid Works required.
- Ability to read and understand blueprints (drawings).
- Experience in gathering and implementing labor standards.
- Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Must be able to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
- Must be able to efficiently organize and manage multiple priorities.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Exhibit high attention to detail and exercise sound judgment in decisions.
- Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Experience in manufacturing, logistics, or industrial operations.
- Experience in high-mix manufacturing environments.
- Previous Engineering support in a custom manufactured environment a plus.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement tools such as Kaizen or 5S.
- Basic project management skills and familiarity with project management tools.
- Experience with ERP system, JD Edwards a plus.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The starting base salary range for this position is $70,960 - $88,700 per year. The compensation posted is the anticipated pay for the position at the time of the posting. We may pay above or below posted amount based on several factors, including, but not limited to education and/or certifications, skills, experience, or work location. Some positions may qualify for additional compensation in the form of bonuses.
At LDI, we are pleased to provide employees with a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision insurance options; paid time off; 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plus company matching and annual discretionary profit sharing; flexible spending and health savings account options; life and disability insurance; tuition assistance; wellness and mental health resources, and financial advising services. Eligibility in benefit programs is based on hours worked per week.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
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.
- Regular sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day to accomplish tasks
- Manual and finger dexterity used regularly with some repetitive finger motions
- Ability to work in front of a computer screen for long periods of time
- Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision; able to identify colors, small letters, and numbers; hand/eye coordination, depth perception and able to adjust focus
- Hearing and speaking
- Other conditions may include frequent reaching, stretching, pushing, pulling, pinching, grasping, and gripping.
ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Comprised of multiple companies with headquarters in New Hope, Minnesota, Liberty Diversified International (LDI) is a privately held company employing more than 1,900 individuals across our manufacturing facilities, production facilities and core business operations in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Virginia, California, and Mexico. With deep roots in the corrugated box manufacturing industry, we operate in the core markets of paper, packaging, workplace products, corrugated plastics and building products.
Since 1918, our values – Caring, Innovation, Trust and Excellence – have guided our day-to-day activities. We believe that when our employees are aligned with these values, we create superior service and solutions for our customers. The LDI family of companies includes Liberty Packaging, Liberty Paper, Liberty Plastics (Custom Solutions and Quarrix Building Products) and Safco.
Liberty Diversified International is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disability, or any other protected class.