Manufacturing & Project Engineer

Location: Houston, TXEmployment Type: Full-Time, Salaried, ExemptDepartment: ProductionReports To: Vice President of ProductionIndustry: Manufacturing

About RAM Windows & Doors

RAM Windows & Doors is an exciting and rapidly growing manufacturer of residential and commercial windows and doors. RAM has been manufacturing high-end custom windows since 1978. In 2021, RAM expanded its product offering to include high-end custom exterior doors. The company has continued to expand its product lines and market presence, creating opportunities for hardworking, motivated, and results-driven professionals.

Position Summary

RAM Windows & Doors is seeking a Manufacturing & Project Engineer to work directly with the Vice President of Production and collaborate closely with our Production, Materials, Planning, Quality, and Maintenance teams.

This position will lead project-based initiatives focused on reducing labor cost per unit, increasing throughput and capacity, shortening lead times, improving material and process flow, and implementing sustainable manufacturing improvements.

The Manufacturing & Project Engineer will analyze existing processes, identify constraints, develop solutions, calculate expected operational and financial benefits, and coordinate approved projects through implementation.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter with practical manufacturing experience, strong mechanical aptitude, and demonstrated knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, and structured problem-solving.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Vice President of Production to identify, prioritize, and execute manufacturing improvement projects.

• Support process improvement across manufacturing operations, including machining, fabrication, saw, CNC, assembly, material handling, inspection, and packaging.

• Analyze production processes to identify bottlenecks, excess labor, waiting, downtime, rework, excessive work in process, and other forms of waste.

• Conduct time studies, process observations, capacity analyses, and workflow reviews.

• Develop and maintain capacity models based on labor, equipment, cycle times, product mix, uptime, and scheduled production hours.

• Develop project scopes, schedules, cost estimates, expected benefits, implementation plans, and performance measures.

• Prepare equipment and capital-project proposals, including throughput impact, capacity increases, labor savings, payback periods, and return-on-investment calculations.

• Research equipment, tooling, fixtures, automation, workstations, and material-handling solutions and present recommendations to management.

• Coordinate approved projects with Production, Materials, Planning, Quality, Maintenance, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.

• Support equipment installation, commissioning, process trials, employee training, and performance validation.

• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methods, including one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, visual management, waste reduction, value-stream mapping, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

• Develop or improve manufacturing layouts, work cells, material presentation, staging, kitting, and replenishment methods.

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, assembly drawings, dimensions, tolerances, specifications, and bills of materials.

• Create or revise basic manufacturing drawings, layouts, and fixture concepts using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar CAD software.

• Design, assemble, test, and improve jigs, fixtures, gauges, templates, carts, workstations, and other production aids.

• Work with internal employees, machine shops, fabricators, and vendors to manufacture parts, tooling, and fixtures.

• Develop standard work, process maps, work instructions, visual controls, and other manufacturing documentation.

• Establish baseline measurements before implementation and verify that completed projects achieve expected results.

• Monitor completed improvements to ensure changes are sustained and do not negatively affect safety, quality, or downstream operations.

• Track and report performance related to labor cost per unit, capacity, throughput, lead time, and overall process improvement.

• Provide regular project updates to the Vice President of Production, including progress, risks, costs, results, and decisions required.

• Manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting established deadlines.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.

• Practical understanding of one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, waste reduction, and continuous improvement.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing capacity, throughput, cycle time, labor utilization, and process flow.

• Ability to conduct time studies, analyze production data, and identify operational constraints.

• Ability to calculate capacity increases, labor savings, payback periods, and return on investment.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tolerances, specifications, and bills of materials.

• Practical knowledge of common machining, fabrication, part-manufacturing, and assembly methods.

• Ability to design, assemble, test, and improve manufacturing jigs, fixtures, tooling, and production aids.

• Familiarity with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or comparable CAD software.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem-solving ability.

• Strong Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, charts, and data analysis.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Strong project-management, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to lead cross-functional projects without direct supervisory authority.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow projects through completion.

• Ability to work effectively on the manufacturing floor with employees, supervisors, managers, vendors, and technical personnel.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Education & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited college or university.

• 2 to 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, project engineering, process engineering, continuous improvement, or a similar manufacturing role.

• Practical experience applying Lean manufacturing methods in a production environment.

• Demonstrated experience with one-piece flow, 5S, standard work, capacity analysis, and process improvement.

Preferred:

• Experience preparing throughput analyses, capacity calculations, project proposals, cost justifications, or ROI analyses.

• Experience designing, assembling, or implementing manufacturing jigs, fixtures, tooling, or production aids.

• Experience using AutoCAD and SolidWorks to create or revise manufacturing drawings, layouts, and fixture designs.

• Experience with value-stream mapping, DMAIC, Kaizen, line balancing, takt-time analysis, cellular manufacturing, or Theory of Constraints.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent practical experience.

• Experience supporting CNC equipment, saw operations, machining, fabrication, assembly, or automated manufacturing equipment.

• Experience with equipment installation, commissioning, process validation, or manufacturing-line launches.

• Experience in engineered-to-order, make-to-order, high-mix, or custom manufacturing.

• Experience in windows and doors, building products, aluminum fabrication, glass, machining, or assembly.

• Experience using ERP, MRP, production-planning, or manufacturing-management systems.

• Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.

What We're Looking For

• Self-starter who takes ownership of assignments and proactively identifies next steps.

• Strong analytical, mechanical, and practical problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to balance engineering analysis with timely shop-floor implementation.

• Comfortable spending significant time on the production floor observing processes, collecting data, and testing solutions.

• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical employees.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and influence results without direct authority.

• Resourceful, creative, detail-oriented, and professional.

• Ability to quickly learn new products, equipment, processes, and systems.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Approximately 40% to 50% of the workday may involve sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Regular walking and standing in active manufacturing and warehouse areas.

• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and climbing stairs.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to safely work around manufacturing equipment, forklifts, fabrication processes, and material-handling systems.

• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment in designated areas.

• Ability to travel to company facilities, vendor locations, equipment demonstrations, or job sites when required.

• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record when travel is required.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Occasional early mornings, evenings, weekends, or schedule flexibility may be required to support production trials, equipment installations, shutdown work, and project deadlines.

Benefits

RAM Windows & Doors currently offers eligible employees:

• 10 paid time-off days• 2 floating paid time-off days• 8 paid company holidays• Medical, dental, and vision insurance• Company-paid life insurance• Company-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance• Company-paid short-term disability insurance• 401(k) retirement savings program with up to a 4% company match• Casual dress code• Weekly pay

Benefits are subject to applicable eligibility requirements, plan terms, company policies, and future modification.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RAM Industries Acquisition, LLC is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the Company, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended.