Manufacturing Engineer – Weld (New Facility Launch!) Steel & O’Brien | West Chester, OH Be part of building something from the ground up. Steel & O’Brien is proud to open our brand-new West Chester, Ohio facility, with our official ribbon cutting on June 30th. This cutting-edge plant brings together new technology, modern equipment, and a fresh opportunity to shape how we manufacture at the highest level. We’re looking for a Manufacturing Engineer – Weld to play a key role in developing and optimizing world-class welding processes in this new environment. If you’re passionate about innovation, continuous improvement, and welding excellence, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact. Position Overview The Manufacturing Engineer – Weld is the technical expert responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining welding processes across our fabrication operations. This role is critical to ensuring quality, efficiency, safety, and consistency in stainless steel and sanitary equipment manufacturing. You’ll collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Production teams to build scalable, high-performance welding operations—while helping shape processes from the ground up in a new facility. What You’ll Do Process Development & Optimization - Develop, implement, and continuously improve welding processes for stainless steel fabrication
- Drive improvements in productivity, quality, throughput, ergonomics, and safety
- Support a variety of welding technologies including TIG, orbital, and laser welding
- Analyze process data to reduce cycle times, improve first-pass yield, and eliminate waste
Tooling, Fixtures & Equipment - Design and develop welding fixtures, tooling, and workholding solutions
- Evaluate and recommend new technologies, automation opportunities, and equipment upgrades
- Support the installation, commissioning, and validation of welding equipment
Quality & Continuous Improvement - Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for weld defects, scrap, and rework
- Collaborate with Quality to establish weld standards, inspection criteria, and process controls
- Create and maintain work instructions, weld maps, and process documentation
- Champion Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives
New Product Introduction - Support new product launches by developing weld processes, tooling, and production methods
- Validate welding procedures and assist with qualification activities
Training & Collaboration - Support training and certification of operators on welding processes and equipment
- Partner cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Customer teams
- Drive KPI improvements related to Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Productivity
What You Bring - Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Welding, Industrial Engineering, or related field (preferred)
- 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience supporting welding/fabrication operations
- Strong expertise in TIG welding, orbital welding, stainless steel fabrication, and sanitary processes
- Knowledge of welding metallurgy, distortion control, and heat input management
- Experience with welding codes, inspection methods, and quality systems
- CAD experience (Autodesk Inventor or similar preferred)
- Proven ability to design fixtures and manufacturing solutions
- Strong analytical thinking, troubleshooting, and root cause problem-solving skills
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams
- Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office
Bonus Experience: - Robotic or automated welding systems
- Capital equipment implementation projects
- CNC fabrication, laser cutting, forming, or assembly processes
- Welding certifications or formal welding training
Our Culture At Steel & O’Brien, we’re committed to building more than great products—we build strong teams and innovative solutions. In this role, you will: - Foster a collaborative, positive, and respectful environment
- Contribute to continuous improvement and operational excellence
- Encourage open communication and idea-sharing
- Embody our core values:
- Integrity • Trust • Creativity & Courage • Teamwork • Excellence
Working Conditions - Fast-paced manufacturing and engineering environment
- Frequent interaction with welding, fabrication, and production operations
- Exposure to welding equipment, machinery, noise, and varying temperatures
- Regular walking throughout the facility
- Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs
- Use of required PPE in production areas
Why Join Us? This is more than a manufacturing role—it’s your chance to build and influence welding operations from the ground up in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. You’ll work with new equipment, cutting-edge processes, and a growing team committed to excellence. Steel & O’Brien is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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