Mechanical Engineer

Kforce has an enterprise client seeking a Mechanical Engineer II in Wilmington, MA. Summary: We are seeking a hands-on Senior Manufacturing Engineer to help build and scale a prototyping and low-rate production operation. This is a senior individual contributor role - you'll design and prove out assembly processes, commission equipment, and drive build-to-build improvements in a fast-moving environment where the next build is rarely the same as the last. The ideal candidate brings 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in assembly environments for complex electromechanical products, including prototyping, NPI, or low-rate initial production. Comfortable with ambiguity, energized by rapid iteration, and motivated to roll up your sleeves and solve hard, hands-on problems. This role rewards strong technical execution, cross-functional collaboration, and a bias for learning quickly from each build. This role also provides day to day technical leadership guiding junior engineers and coordinating the work that gets a build across the line. Duties:

• Develop and prove out assembly methods - joining, fastening, adhesive bonding, press-fits, human-assisted automation, and robotic assembly - with an emphasis on rapid iteration and reconfigurability between builds
• Drive manufacturing line concept, design, requirements, sizing/balancing/timing, material flow, vendor selection, equipment specification, installation, and commissioning - designing for flexibility and speed-to-learn
• Define build instrumentation and data capture to maximize learning per build cycle; Translate build observations into actionable process feedback and contribute to the build report/lessons-learned process that feeds the next iteration
• Design and build quick-turn fixtures and tooling; Make practical build-vs-buy decisions - knowing when 80% is good enough to learn; Leverage rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, laser cutting, modular framing) for process tooling

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
• 7+ years of direct manufacturing engineering experience in assembly environments for complex electromechanical products, including prototyping, NPI, or low-rate initial production
• Experience supporting commissioning, startup, and ramp-up of assembly operations
• Strong knowledge of assembly methods including mechanical joining, fastening, adhesive bonding, press-fits, human-assisted automation, and robotic assembly
• Track record of driving design-build-test loops and rapid physical iteration in environments with evolving specs and incomplete documentation
• Ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments
• Experience providing technical leadership and coordinating the work of engineers and technicians on a build or project team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent
• Experience with build instrumentation, data capture, and structured lessons-learned processes in prototype or development builds
• Experience with rapid prototyping methods for process tooling (3D printing, laser cutting, modular framing)
• Experience in R&D, skunkworks, or advanced development environments
• Experience partnering with product design teams on manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies (Green Belt preferred)