A manufacturing engineer is a linchpin in production engineering and vital to achieving smooth manufacturing processes. Overall, manufacturing engineers ensure the efficient and effective manufacturing operation, from designing and optimizing production processes to managing production schedules and resources and ensuring that the products meet the desired quality standards.
 

Manufacturing engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and improving the manufacturing processes used in a production facility. This involves analyzing the existing processes and identifying areas for improvement, such as reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and improving quality.

They also work to identify and solve production issues, such as defects in products, equipment failures, and production delays. They use problem-solving skills and analytical tools to diagnose problems and implement solutions that prevent these issues from recurring.


Manufacturing engineers are charged with overseeing the production systems used in a facility, including the machinery, equipment, and software. They must also safeguard that the products manufactured meet the required quality standards. To do that, they develop and implement quality control measures, such as statistical process controls, to monitor the production processes and ensure that the products meet the desired specifications.


Manufacturing engineers also manage labor, materials, and equipment, to ensure that the facility meets production goals and timelines. It is important for manufacturing engineers to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product design, supply chain, and quality control, to ensure that the production processes are aligned with the overall business objectives.


In production engineering, the manufacturing engineers must also research automation techniques to maximize production line efficiency and plan factory layouts that optimize how products are made across entire facilities or warehouses.


As the name of the profession suggests, manufacturing engineers typically work in manufacturing plants or at production sites. They can support manufacturing in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, food processing, chemicals, and more. A fast-growing segment of manufacturing engineering is that of additive manufacturing where 3D printing is used to construct three-dimensional objects from computer-aided design (CAD) models or 3D models.

Apply now for a job as a Manufacturing engineer! 

Project Engineer

Location: Scoresby

Branche: Life Sciences

Expertise: Research & Development

Experience: 4 years

Reporting into the Capital Engineering Manager, this role will suite someone with wealth of experience in food and beverage industry, preferably from confectionary background. They will be responsible for the planning, development, and execution of capital investment projects within the supply chain network. The Project Engineer will lead and manage technical feasibility, design, and implementation, ensuring all projects align with business strategy, quality, safety, and environmental standards. You will be working in a collaborative and high-performing engineering environment, delivering a variety of projects that support manufacturing excellence, automation, and sustainability goals. Project Development Phase: Lead the development of capital investment projects, ensuring strong business cases, technical feasibility, and alignment with strategic goals. Deliver accurate project scopes, budgets, and timelines. Ensure compliance with HSE, quality, procurement, and sanitary design standards. Engage stakeholders across functions to align on technical requirements and outcomes. Project Execution Phase: Manage project execution including installation, commissioning, and handover to operations. Oversee contractor management, resource planning, and compliance with work permits and site safety protocols. Drive project completion on time, to budget, and to required quality standards. Utilize structured project management methodologies (e.g., IIM framework) and tools. Lead and support cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers. Recognize and promote team contributions and development.

Quality Engineer

Location: Perth

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Quality Management

Experience: 2 years

Coordinating Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs) and managing Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and Corrective Actions to closure. Management of the organisations quality plan Conducting quality audits of site activities, subcontractors, and suppliers. Maintaining meticulous QA documentation, test records, and material certification. Preparing clear weekly/monthly quality reports for project stakeholders. Providing technical QA guidance and mentoring to site teams, fostering a culture of quality.

Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer

Location: Perth

Branche: Conventional Energy

Expertise: Validation

Experience: 5 years

Lead complex plant modifications to reduce safety, environmental, regulatory, and financial risks to ALARP. Provide technical input into equipment breakdown and troubleshooting, performance monitoring, maintenance strategy and work planning, HAZOP / LOPA workshops, ART forums, and incident investigations Manage external service providers for multidiscipline projects including scope definition, budget approval, assurance reviews, and schedule tracking. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver practical engineering solutions and support planning engineering via maintenance strategies, procedure updates, and queries.

Planning Engineer - Underground

Location: Perth

Branche: Mining

Expertise: Production & Manufacturing

Experience: 0 years

Clearly communicate plans and instructions to Shift Supervisors, Foremen, and Operators to ensure safe and effective execution. Develop and communicate weekly schedules for drilling, blasting, and support activities, ensuring they are accurate, achievable, and aligned with production targets. Collaborate with operations teams to gather feedback, identify potential bottlenecks, and incorporate mitigation strategies into planning. Maintain and validate the mine production database by accurately entering and reviewing production and development data. Conduct stope performance reviews and back-analysis to drive continuous improvement in drilling and blasting designs and controls. Reconcile daily and weekly plans with the monthly mine schedule, reporting variances to the Senior Mine Engineer for corrective action. Contribute to end-of-month reporting on mining activities and schedule compliance. Uphold and actively demonstrate all company and statutory standards for health, safety, environment, and social responsibility. Exemplify the organization's Code of Conduct and core values in all daily actions and decisions.

Common manufacturing engineer responsibilities 

A manufacturing engineer is responsible for performing a range of production engineering tasks. Responsibilities may include:

  • Designing and developing manufacturing processes to meet requirements;
  • Managing production flow, labor, and material costs for manufacturing;
  • Developing process flow diagrams to identify potential areas of improvement;
  • Establishing process standards for production operations;
  • Developing best practices for manufacturing operations;
  • Reporting on all production data and documentation for internal use;
  • Analyzing data and troubleshooting existing processes to identify areas of improvement;
  • Working with vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials and components for the manufacturing process;
  • Ensuring compliance with manufacturing safety regulations;
  • Providing technical support to diverse production process team members, from machine operators to product developers, among others;
  • Developing cost estimates for new production projects;
  • Implementing new technologies or ways of working to improve manufacturing efficiency;
  • Managing manufacturing team members and providing mentoring or training as needed.

Qualifications for manufacturing engineers 

Manufacturing engineers should possess at least a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Some employers may also require a Master's degree in Engineering. In some countries, a professional certification may be required.

Additional supporting skills and experience include:

  • 2-5+ years of experience in production or process engineering, quality control, or similar;
  • Strong foundation in mathematics and science, as well as knowledge of engineering principles, production processes, and quality control methods;
  • Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and teamwork skills;
  • Proficiency in using diverse computer software, including the latest design, modeling, and calculation software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER, NX, or similar;
  • Being up-to-date with advances in manufacturing technology and industry trends.

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