Manufacturing Engineer – Automotive

Job description

**About Machina Labs:** Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet. Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years. Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on. If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place. ### Job Description: Machina Labs is seeking a **Manufacturing Engineer to support our Automotive department** as we develop and scale advanced metal forming and manufacturing processes for automotive applications. In this hands-on role, you will work closely with engineering and production teams to transition automotive components and assemblies from development and prototype builds into repeatable, production-ready manufacturing processes. You will help improve manufacturability, tooling, process flow, quality, and production efficiency while supporting the integration of formed metal components into automotive applications. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working directly with hardware, solving manufacturing challenges on the production floor, and helping bring new automotive products and processes into reliable production. ### Key Responsibilities: - Support the development, validation, and scaling of manufacturing processes for automotive components and assemblies, including robotic metal forming and related fabrication operations. - Manage Bills of Materials (BOMs), including translating Engineering BOMs (EBOMs) into Manufacturing BOMs (MBOMs) that support automotive component fabrication, assembly, routing, and material flow. - Design and develop jigs, fixtures, and tooling for component fabrication, handling, assembly, and integration; use CAD and appropriate engineering analysis to validate designs. - Develop detailed work instructions, assembly procedures, method sheets, and in-process documentation to ensure repeatability, quality, and process consistency. - Support production planning activities including job planning, routing development, and scheduling; utilize ERP/MRP systems to manage work orders and coordinate production activities. - Partner with production and facilities teams to improve automotive manufacturing workflows, work-cell layouts, material flow, and throughput using Lean Manufacturing and 5S principles. - Estimate manufacturing costs, develop time standards, and recommend tooling or equipment requirements for new or evolving product lines. - Collaborate with automotive engineering and production teams to assess design for manufacturability (DFM), address fit and integration considerations, and support engineering changes, first article inspections, and process improvements. - Work directly with technicians and production teams to troubleshoot fabrication, assembly, dimensional, and process issues and improve manufacturing consistency. - Maintain accurate manufacturing documentation, reporting systems, and operational records to support production and continuous improvement initiatives. \*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs. ### Required Background & Experience: - 5+ years of Manufacturing or Operations Engineering experience in hands-on production environments, ideally involving automotive components, metal fabrication, complex assemblies, or advanced manufacturing systems. - Proven experience supporting low- to mid-volume production environments, including stabilizing processes, scaling operations, and managing engineering changes such as ECOs and process improvements. - Strong experience managing BOM structures, including converting EBOMs to MBOMs for efficient manufacturing workflows. - Proficiency designing production fixtures, jigs, and tooling using 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, NX, or similar platforms; experience performing simulations and FEA analysis. - Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment design, and process engineering principles, including Lean Manufacturing and 5S methodologies. - Experience developing work instructions, routings, assembly procedures, and process documentation. - Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems for production planning, work order management, scheduling, and material tracking. - Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD for system layouts, schematics, and integrated mechanical system design. - Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across engineering, production, and leadership teams. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. ### Preferred Qualifications: - Experience working with robotic or automated manufacturing cells, incremental sheet forming, or similar advanced manufacturing technologies. - Experience supporting automotive component fabrication, prototype-to-production transitions, or integration of fabricated components into larger automotive assemblies. - Background in precision, low-volume manufacturing, including robotic or automated manufacturing cells, incremental sheet forming, or similar metal forming technologies. - Additional hands-on experience with automotive fabrication, automotive integration, machining, or general sheet metal fabrication is a plus.