We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to play a key role in the launch and ramp-up of a new manufacturing operation. This position will be responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing manufacturing processes to ensure operational readiness, productivity, quality, and cost efficiency from startup through full-scale production.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with at least 3 years of manufacturing engineering experience, strong project management capabilities, and a proven track record supporting new product introductions, process improvements, and production launches. Experience in the sewing, apparel, textile, or cut-and-sew industry is highly desirable.
Education & Experience
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial, Textile, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering.
- Highly preferred with Master’s Degree (M.Sc. or MBA) in Manufacturing Engineering, Project Management, Industrial Engineering, or Business Administration.
- Work Experience: Minimum of 3 to 5 years in sewing, cutting, and apparel or fabric related manufacturing plants, preferably with proven experience in heavy-duty sewing for fall protection and rescue equipment (harnesses, lanyards, and lifelines).
- Language: Intermediate to advanced English (for reading technical specifications and dealing with suppliers).
- Visa to Travel
Plant Start-up & Implementation Requirements
- Production Line Implementation: Experience executing and setting up physical layouts and manufacturing cells on the shop floor based on blueprints.
- Equipment Installation Support: Assistance in the installation, leveling, and pneumatic/electrical connection of manual and automated sewing machinery.
- Work Instructions & SOPs: Experience drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), visual aids, and one-point lessons for cutting, sewing, and assembly processes.
- Operator Onboarding & Training: Hands-on capability to train new operators on specific sewing techniques, machine operations, and safety protocols.
- Line Balancing & Pilot Runs: Experience monitoring and adjusting line balancing during initial trial runs (pilot production) to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
- Tooling and Fixtures Setup: Design and implementation of simple jigs, fixtures, and sewing attachments (guides) to ensure consistency from day one.
- Material Flow Setup: Collaboration in setting up material handling routes, kanban racks, and point-of-use storage for fabrics, hardware, and threads.
- ERP systems: Set-up and maintenance of product Bills of Materials, and Methods of manufacture. Experience supporting Engineering Change orders.
- USMCA: Experience with supporting USMCA maquiladoras, Import/Export.
Required Technical Knowledge
- Cutting Processes: Operation of automated (CNC, Gerber, Lectra, ZUND) and manual cutting machines.
- Sewing Processes: Operation of industrial sewing machines (single needle/lockstitch, overlock, buttonhole, double needle).
- Stitch & Seam Types: Knowledge of needles, threads, tensions, and sewing attachments or guides.
- Material Handling: Understanding the behavior of fabrics, leathers, synthetics, and their elasticity during processing.
- Design Tools: Proficiency in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, digital pattern-making software, Adobe Illustrator
- Software: Proficiency in Microsoft office products, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel
Lean Manufacturing & Productivity
- Lean Manufacturing: Application of 5S, Kaizen, VSM (Value Stream Mapping), and Poka-Yokes.
- Time & Motion Studies: Line balancing for sewing lines and production capacity calculations.
- Workstation Design: Applied ergonomics for cutting tables and sewing modules.
- Quality Systems: Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Process FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Non-conformance, Corrective Action methods.
- Ability to use inspection tools such as Calipers, micrometers, rulers, etc.
Soft Skills & Competencies
- Problem Solving: Analytical thinking to reduce fabric waste (scrap) and optimize yields.
- Leadership: Ability to train, motivate, and guide supervisors and line operators.
- Teamwork: Direct collaboration with Production, Quality and Maintenance.
- Adaptability: Flexibility to resolve line stoppages due to material, tooling, or machinery failures in a fast-paced environment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $1.00 - $2.00 per month
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience with sewing processes?
- Are you able to have a fluent conversation in English?
- Do you have a valid visa to travel to the US for training?
Work Location: In person
