Manufacturing Engineer in California, USA - MP

We are seeking a proactive Manufacturing Engineer to drive production efficiency, equipment reliability, and assembly workflow optimization across injection molding and post-molding operations at its two manufacturing facilities. While the Process Engineering team owns molding process parameters, this role owns manufacturing systems, equipment integration, cell layouts, and assembly processes. The Manufacturing Engineer bridges product design, tooling, molding, and secondary operations by implementing lean manufacturing principles, automating secondary work cells, and optimizing plant-floor logistics to minimize manufacturing costs. PRIMARY TIME ALLOCATION Support new product introductions (40%): Coordinate with Engineering to understand product needs; design and build fixtures, conveyance devices, robotics, and processes; document the final process and train team members before handoff. Optimize existing projects (40%): Partner with Engineering, Supervisors, Leads, and Operators to implement solutions that reduce labor requirements and scrap rates. Optimize facilities (20%): Reduce waste throughout the facilities, including resin conveyance, mixing, material grinding, and related workflows. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS) The employee will be evaluated directly on the following success metrics: Labor Efficiency and Labor Cost per Unit: Reduce direct labor hours through workflow redesign, fixtures, and secondary automation. Project Execution: Deliver capital equipment and line-integration projects on time and within budget. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESWork Cell and Secondary Operations Design: Design, build, and optimize work cells for secondary processing, including ultrasonic welding, heat staking, de-gating, and automated packaging, for new and existing projects. Create and implement robust Poka-Yoke error-proofing fixtures and assembly aids to eliminate operator error and improve quality performance. Establish standard work instructions, SOPs, and visual management controls for manufacturing operators.Automation and Equipment Integration: Partner with the Process Engineer and external system integrators to specify, procure, and integrate end-of-arm tooling, robots, vision systems, conveyor systems, and equipment for secondary operations such as heat staking and installation of compression limiters and O-rings. Lead new manufacturing-equipment projects from technical specifications through factory acceptance testing and plant installation. Automate material handling, part containment, packaging, warehousing, and other core functions to support growth without proportional labor increases.Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing: Lead Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen events to eliminate waste, optimize floor-space utilization, and reduce material travel distances. Conduct line-balancing and time-and-motion studies to identify bottlenecks and optimize post-molding assembly cycle times. Drive root-cause problem solving for manufacturing defects, yield losses, and equipment downtime.Cross-Functional Support and Launch: Collaborate with Quality to establish control plans, PFMEAs, process-flow diagrams, and inspection standards for production runs. Partner with Maintenance to establish preventive-maintenance routines and total productive maintenance standards for secondary equipment and robotics. Support New Product Introduction to ensure design for manufacturability and a seamless transition of new parts to full-volume production. JOB INFORMATION Number of Job positions available: 1Starting Salary: $80,000/year + discretionary bonus.Workweek: “Daytime hours” Monday-Friday (we are flexible on start/ end times, but these will be salaried roles that are not tied strictly to our shift schedules)Criminal Background Check: Yes, applicants must be able to pass a Mexican and/or US CBC before departure from place of employment, arranged by the recruitment company.Drug Test? No pre-employment DT required.English Level: Bilingual in English and Spanish (C1). English B2 or better (they will need to be communicating very consistently with our English-speaking Engineering teams)Drivers License: Mexican valid drivers license and process US license in a timely manner to be in compliance with the US regulations.