Job Title: Manufacturing EngineerJob DescriptionThis Manufacturing Engineer role takes full ownership of manufacturing activities, leading products from prototype through pilot and full production builds while driving continuous improvement in quality, cost, and efficiency. The position supports new product introduction, process optimization, and cross-functional problem solving, with a strong focus on structured methodologies and collaboration across engineering, production, and customer teams.
Responsibilities
- Take full manufacturing responsibility for assigned products, leading them through prototype, pilot, and production builds while ensuring manufacturability, quality, and schedule adherence.
- Oversee the implementation of customer documentation changes and internal change orders, ensuring accurate and timely updates to manufacturing processes and documentation.
- Report on the status of New Product Launch (NPL) activities, including progress, risks, and mitigation plans to relevant stakeholders.
- Use statistical tools to lead quality improvement initiatives within the customer team, analyzing data to identify trends and drive corrective and preventive actions.
- Drive internal and external corrective action plans, coordinating with cross-functional teams and customers to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
- Actively participate in new customer development and new business development activities by providing manufacturing input, feasibility assessments, and cost considerations.
- Analyze line return information and production feedback to understand manufacturing process issues and drive effective corrective actions.
- Perform product-level testing or validation activities as required to support manufacturing readiness, quality verification, and process capability.
- Perform Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews and collaborate with Test Engineering on Design for Testability (DFT) to ensure robust, efficient, and testable designs.
- Assist in developing project proposals and associated cost estimates, providing manufacturing process assumptions, capacity considerations, and cost drivers.
- Execute product transitional manufacturing requirements and process approaches, ensuring smooth transfer from development to full production.
- Develop in-depth knowledge of customers products as required to support transitional activities, ongoing production, and process improvements.
- Demonstrate the ability to solve and document moderately complex cross-departmental issues using structured problem-solving tools.
- Create, update, and maintain work instructions and other process documentation to support consistent, high-quality assembly and manufacturing operations.
- Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including design, test, quality, and operations, to ensure alignment of manufacturing processes with product requirements and customer expectations.
- Communicate clearly with internal and external customers, providing status updates, technical explanations, and recommendations in a professional manner.
- Effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities, taking on additional responsibilities as required to support business needs.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
- Minimum of 3+ years of experience as a manufacturing engineer in a production setting.
- Hands-on experience in manufacturing engineering, including process engineering and manufacturing process development and optimization.
- Demonstrated ability to solve and document moderately complex cross-departmental issues using structured problem-solving tools.
- Engineering-level understanding of electronic components, circuits, and systems or mechanical components and systems, depending on education and experience background.
- Experience with continuous improvement, including lean manufacturing and Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
- Proficiency in process improvement and project management within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience with assembly processes and the creation or maintenance of work instructions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse groups.
- Strong multitasking skills and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as required.
- Effective organization and prioritization skills with high attention to detail.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
- Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools in a production environment.
- Strong customer service orientation and client focus.
- Working knowledge of productivity tools, including Microsoft Office products.
- Ability to use web-based conferencing tools such as WebEx for collaboration and communication.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in a medical device manufacturing environment.
- Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT) practices.
- Exposure to new product launch (NPL) activities and transitional manufacturing requirements.
- Experience participating in or supporting new customer development and new business development initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to document and solve moderate to complex cross-functional challenges using structured problem-solving tools.
- Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment, and professionalism in handling sensitive information and decisions.
- Comfort working in cross-functional teams that may include design, test, quality, and operations personnel.
- Experience using lean and Six Sigma tools for continuous improvement in a production environment.
Work EnvironmentThis role is based in Rochester, MN, within a production-focused manufacturing environment that supports prototype, pilot, and full-scale builds. The position involves close collaboration with engineering, operations, quality, and customer-facing teams, and requires regular interaction with production lines and process equipment. Work typically combines office-based tasks, such as data analysis, documentation, and virtual meetings using tools like Microsoft Office and WebEx, with on-floor engagement in manufacturing areas to support process development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Rochester, MN. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $38.00 - $55.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Rochester, MN. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Rochester,MN.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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