Product & Process Engineer

Title: Product & Process Engineer

Location: Richland, Mississippi 

Salary: $85,000–$95,000

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Job Category: Manufacturing - Sheet Metal

Summary

The Product & Process Engineer is responsible for taking customer designs and technical requirements and converting them into accurate, production-ready solutions for a sheet metal manufacturing environment.

This is a hands-on engineering role that combines mechanical design, CAD/CAM, CNC programming, manufacturing support, and process troubleshooting. The Engineer will work from customer drawings, DXF files, and 3D models; develop or modify designs in SOLIDWORKS; prepare the programs required for CNC laser cutting and bending; and support new parts through production to ensure they are manufactured correctly.

The position requires someone who understands not only how to create the drawing or program, but also how that engineering translates onto the production floor. The Engineer will work closely with CNC operators, welders, assemblers, management, and engineering colleagues in Germany to move products efficiently from customer drawing through successful production.

Because this is a small manufacturing operation, the successful candidate must be comfortable working across the full engineering and manufacturing process and stepping outside a narrowly defined engineering function when necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Review customer drawings, DXF files, specifications, and 3D models to determine manufacturing requirements.
• Develop, modify, and prepare 2D and 3D engineering drawings using SOLIDWORKS.
• Convert customer 2D drawings into accurate 3D models when required.
• Prepare customer designs and engineering files for manufacture within a sheet metal fabrication environment.
• Develop and modify CNC programs required to manufacture parts using laser cutting and CNC bending/press brake equipment.
• Translate DXF files, drawings, and other engineering information into machine-ready programs and production instructions.
• Ensure engineering drawings, programs, machine parameters, measurements, and other technical information are accurate before and during production.
• Support new-part introduction from initial engineering preparation through the first production run and successful release into repeatable manufacturing.
• Follow newly developed parts through production to verify that the finished product reflects the original design intent and customer requirements.
• Work directly with CNC operators and production personnel to troubleshoot programming, dimensional, fabrication, fit, and manufacturability issues.
• Make engineering or programming adjustments when production results do not match drawings, specifications, measurements, or intended fit.
• Provide hands-on engineering support during assembly or first-build activities when necessary to confirm that components fit together and function as intended.
• Support ongoing production by answering technical questions and resolving drawing, programming, fabrication, and process issues.
• Review manufactured parts as part of the normal engineering process to confirm that dimensions, fabrication, welds, fit, and finished components correspond with the applicable drawings and programming; assist with investigating customer quality concerns when needed.
• Participate in continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, engineering standards, workflows, and production methods.
• Work collaboratively with the U.S. manufacturing team and regularly communicate with engineering and technical personnel based in Germany.

Required Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent technical education combined with directly relevant advanced manufacturing experience.
• At least 3–4 years of directly relevant experience in sheet metal manufacturing, mechanical/manufacturing engineering, or a closely related environment.
• Strong working experience with SOLIDWORKS.
• Demonstrated experience creating and modifying drawings and 3D models for manufactured parts.
• Direct experience with sheet metal fabrication.
• Experience with CNC laser cutting processes and programming.
• Experience with CNC bending / press brake processes and programming.
• Experience taking engineering drawings, DXF files, or similar technical files and converting them into production-ready CNC programs.
• Strong understanding of how sheet metal components progress from engineering design through laser cutting, bending, welding/assembly, inspection, and finished production.
• Ability to troubleshoot engineering and manufacturing issues and determine whether problems originate with the drawing, programming, machine parameters, fabrication process, or finished part.
• Ability to work closely with production personnel and provide practical engineering support on the manufacturing floor.
• Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to complete engineering and programming work accurately and efficiently.
• Self-directed and able to manage responsibilities with a strong sense of urgency and execution.
• Comfortable working in a small manufacturing environment where engineers are expected to be flexible and take ownership beyond a narrowly defined job function.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience programming or working with TrumpfCNC laser equipment.
• Experience with Bystronic laser cutting, bending, or programming systems.
• Experience with comparable sheet metal laser cutting and bending equipment will be considered; direct experience with the company's specific machine brands can be trained.
• Experience supporting new-product introduction, first production runs, or transition from engineering into repeatable manufacturing.
• Experience working directly with CNC operators, welders, assemblers, and other manufacturing personnel.
• Experience performing practical inspection or verification of manufactured sheet metal components against engineering drawings and specifications.
• Stable employment history within manufacturing, fabrication, or engineering environments.

Training & Development

The Engineer will work closely with experienced technical and engineering personnel based in Germany. Training on company-specific manufacturing processes, systems, equipment, and programming can be provided through remote collaboration and Microsoft Teams.

There may also be opportunities to travel to Germany for hands-on technical training and to work directly with the engineering and manufacturing teams supporting the U.S. operation.

Work Environment

This is an on-site engineering position within a small sheet metal manufacturing operation.

The Engineer will primarily perform engineering and programming responsibilities but will also spend time on the production floor when following new parts through manufacturing, troubleshooting problems, verifying production results, or working directly with operators.

The production area includes active sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, bending, welding, and assembly operations. The engineering/office area is separate from the primary production environment.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with approximately 3% company match
• Annual performance review
• Potential performance-based bonus
• Technical training and professional development opportunities
• Potential opportunities for technical training in Germany