Advanced Manufacturing Engineer

Position Overview

Location: Buffalo, NY

Department:

Reports To:

Key Responsibilities

• Process Design & Standardization – Design, develop, and validate robust manufacturing processes aligned with product requirements, safety, and quality expectations.
• Establish and maintain standard work, process documentation, and visual controls to ensure repeatable execution.
• Lead process development efforts by collaborating with equipment suppliers, integrators, and internal stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) – Identify and eliminate waste using Lean Manufacturing principles (flow, pull, takt, standard work).
• Lead and participate in kaizen events, root cause problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Apply structured problem-solving methods (e.g., PDCA, A3 thinking, 5 Whys) to address process instability and defects.
• Manufacturing Efficiency & Layout Optimization – Analyze and improve workflow, material flow, space utilization, and equipment layout to support safety, efficiency, and scalability.
• Support line balancing, capacity planning, and throughput optimization.
• Quality at the Source – Design and implement process controls, error-proofing (poka-yoke), and inspection methods to ensure quality is built into the process—not inspected in later.
• Partner with Quality to reduce defects, variation, and rework through process capability improvements.
• Cost & Decision Support – Provide data-driven manufacturing decisions by analyzing labor, material, equipment, and overhead costs.
• Support make/buy decisions, capital justification, and process trade-off analysis.
• Equipment & Process Support – Support equipment commissioning, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure equipment reliability, uptime, and preventative maintenance alignment.
• Serve as a technical resource for manufacturing teams, addressing process questions and improvement opportunities.
• Data, Documentation & Knowledge Development – Maintain accurate process documentation, databases, and reports related to manufacturing performance.
• Develop and deliver training for technicians and operators to ensure process understanding and ownership.
• Stay current on manufacturing technologies, methods, and best practices through continued learning.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as a Manufacturing Engineer in a production environment.
• Experience supporting fabrication, assembly, or industrial manufacturing operations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured, methodical approach.
• Experience using engineering and manufacturing software tools.
• Ability to work independently while effectively leading cross-functional efforts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, TPS, or continuous improvement systems.
• Experience with process mapping, value stream analysis, or standard work development.
• Familiarity with quality tools (SPC, PFMEA, control plans).
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) or process scale-up.