A Production Engineer in an automotive manufacturing plant plays a key role in ensuring the smooth, efficient, and high-quality operation of production lines. The purpose of the Production Engineer position is to oversee daily manufacturing activities, ensure that production targets and quality standards are consistently met, and support continuous improvement initiatives across the plant. This role also ensures that all production documentation is accurate, up to date, and compliant with internal and external standards.
Overall, Production Engineers are essential to maintaining the reliability, efficiency, and output of manufacturing operations. They apply technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to operational excellence to optimize production performance and deliver high-quality automotive components that meet or exceed customer expectations.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

• Safety-First. A safety-first mindset is a proactive approach to safety, where all employees keep an eye out for safety issues and avoid potentially dangerous situations which could likely cause danger, risk, or injury. This also means that everyone has responsibility for safety regardless of role, level, title, or job.
• Continuous Improvement. Suggest every employee, everywhere is always looking for ways we can improve and standardize our work even when everything is going well. By doing so, it will drive consistent progress toward improved business performance and will tap into people’s desire to be the best at what they do.
• Compliant. Employee compliance is achieved when workers are familiar with all the laws that govern their industry or job and know how to conduct business in an ethical manner. It often requires procedural training and encouragement to learn from mistakes.
• Driving Results. Identify specific purpose, goal, or destination and prioritize making progress toward it Focus discussions on what you want to achieve and why – and then let them do it. Everyone knows their role and is accountable for driving their work to achieve a common goal.
• ONE Team. One team means being part of a group that shares strong relationships, trust, respect, and a common vision for what “good” looks like. One team means supporting and relying on one another to achieve to drive the overall business priorities and meet our customer commitments

SKILLSEXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field preferred
• 2+ years of experience in a production or manufacturing engineering role, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control, and industrial safety standards.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and manufacturing simulation tools.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Production Efficiency: Monitoring and analyzing daily production operations to identify opportunities for improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and optimizing resource utilization. Supporting production teams in troubleshooting equipment or process issues. Implementing changes to equipment, workflow, or layout to enhance throughput and reduce cycle times. Conducting line balancing, takt time analysis, and capacity studies to ensure production targets are met.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with engineering, maintenance, quality, and logistics teams to ensure production goals align with company objectives. Participating in the design and implementation of jigs, fixtures, and tooling to support efficient manufacturing. Coordinating with the commercial team to ensure production aligns with bill of materials (BOM) and customer requirements. Supporting launch activities and engineering changes with internal and external stakeholders.
• Quality Control and Compliance: Ensuring that production processes consistently meet quality standards and customer specifications. Supporting the development and implementation of quality documentation such as control plans, PFMEAs, and standardized work instructions. Investigating production-related quality issues and implementing corrective and preventive actions. Ensuring compliance with internal quality systems and external regulatory standards.
• Equipment Performance and Maintenance: Collaborating with maintenance teams to ensure production equipment is operating reliably and efficiently. Supporting preventive maintenance planning and execution. Monitoring equipment performance metrics and participating in root cause analysis for equipment failures. Recommending upgrades or modifications to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Safety and Environmental Standards: Promoting a safe working environment by identifying and addressing safety risks in production areas. Ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, environmental standards, and company safety policies. Participating in safety audits, risk assessments, and ergonomic evaluations. Supporting the implementation of safety improvements and employee training programs.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Collecting and analyzing production data including output, scrap, downtime, and labor efficiency. Creating reports and dashboards to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs). Using data to identify trends, support decision-making, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Presenting findings and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Continuous Improvement: Leading or participating in lean manufacturing initiatives, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma projects to drive process improvements and cost savings. Standardizing best practices across shifts and production lines. Utilizing 5S, visual management, and standard work to improve workplace organization and efficiency. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the production team.
• Strategic Planning Support: Contributing to the development of the annual business plan, long-range planning, and strategic initiatives. Supporting capacity planning, capital investment projects, and new product introductions. Providing input on production capabilities and constraints to support business growth and customer satisfaction.