Manufacturing Engineer – Fabrication & Finishing Help bring the fabrication and finishing processes of a new manufacturing facility online. About the role Steel & O’Brien Manufacturing is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer – Fabrication & Finishing to help launch and grow our new Indianapolis facility supporting the Data Center Cooling industry. You’ll lead the setup, commissioning, improvement, and ongoing support of non-welding fabrication and finishing processes. These include tube forming and branching, tube laser cutting, deburring, parts washing, and passivation. You’ll work with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to establish safe, repeatable processes that support reliable production and long-term growth. What you’ll do Equipment setup and startup - Lead the layout, setup, and commissioning of fabrication and finishing equipment, including T-Drills, tube cutting lasers, deburring equipment, parts washers, and passivation systems.
- Support equipment selection, procurement, installation, and validation.
- Coordinate with Facilities, Engineering, and Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) teams on utilities, ventilation, drainage, chemical handling, and equipment safety.
- Work with equipment vendors and automation integrators during installation, startup, and upgrades.
Process development and production support - Develop and improve fabrication and finishing processes to meet production, quality, and customer requirements.
- Create and maintain work instructions, standard work, process parameters, quality controls, and inspection checkpoints.
- Develop production-ready processes to support new product introductions.
- Support tube laser setup, programming coordination, and process optimization.
- Improve fixturing, material flow, and part handling to support equipment performance and efficient production.
- Troubleshoot equipment issues, process variation, and product quality concerns.
- Work with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and uptime.
- Train operators on approved processes and work instructions.
Cleaning, passivation, and surface treatment - Own parts cleaning, washing, and passivation processes to meet quality and customer requirements.
- Set controls for chemical concentration, temperature, cycle time, and rinse effectiveness.
- Work with Quality and EHS on the safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals and wastewater.
Continuous improvement and collaboration - Analyze cycle time, yield, scrap, rework, and downtime to find opportunities for improvement.
- Lead improvements that increase safety, quality, throughput, and cost efficiency.
- Apply Lean methods, including 5S, quick changeover (SMED), standard work, and mistake-proofing.
- Work with Quality, Industrial Engineering, Automation, Maintenance, and Operations on process improvements, layout changes, equipment relocations, and facility expansion.
What you’ll bring - A bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field—or equivalent relevant experience.
- Three or more years of manufacturing engineering or process-support experience in fabrication, machining, or finishing operations.
- Hands-on experience with equipment such as tube lasers, tube forming systems, or industrial washers.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and process documentation.
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and process improvement skills.
- Clear technical communication and documentation skills.
- Ability to prioritize competing needs and work effectively across departments in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- A strong commitment to safe equipment operation and consistent process execution.
Preferred experience - Passivation, chemical cleaning, or surface treatment processes.
- New facility startups, equipment commissioning, or major equipment installations.
- Laser cutting technology and automation.
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
What success looks like - Equipment is commissioned and ready to support production milestones.
- Processes consistently meet quality and production requirements.
- Scrap, rework, and downtime decrease.
- Throughput improves and cycle times shorten.
- Production and new product introduction timelines receive timely engineering support.
Our culture We value Integrity, Trust, Creativity and Courage, Teamwork, and Excellence. We encourage respectful communication, employee ideas, collaboration, and continuous improvement while protecting confidentiality and maintaining high standards of safety and quality. Working conditions This on-site role is based in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with exposure to noise and varying temperatures. Duties require standing and walking for extended periods, as well as lifting, reaching, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, carrying objects, and using stairs as needed. Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds is required. Salary Range: $85K - $115K , 5% annual bonus Attendance Requirements:Attendance on a regular, consistent basis is mandatory. Accommodations:Essential functions of this position may include but are not limited to lifting, reaching, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, carrying objects, ascending/descending stairs and commuting to work location. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job functions under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) or other state or federal law, you may request the accommodations. |