Manufacturing Engineer

Industrial Engineer Reports To: Operations / Manufacturing Leadership Position Summary Featherlite is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to support and improve the manufacturing processes used to produce custom-engineered trailers and related assemblies.

This position will serve as a key link between Design Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, helping translate engineering designs, specifications, and bills of materials into practical, efficient, and well-documented manufacturing processes.

The Manufacturing Engineer will work directly with production personnel, engineering teams, and operational leadership to develop and improve manufacturing methods, establish consistent production documentation, resolve manufacturing challenges, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, solutions-oriented engineer who understands the challenges of low-volume, high-variation manufacturing environments and can balance engineering requirements with the practical realities of the production floor.

This position will also play an important supporting role in the organization's continued development and implementation of manufacturing systems, including ERP, shop-floor data collection, and digital manufacturing documentation.

Key Responsibilities Manufacturing Process Development Develop, document, and improve manufacturing processes for custom trailers, components, and subassemblies.Establish and maintain manufacturing routings, operation sequences, and work instructions in coordination with Engineering and Operations.Develop standardized Methods of Manufacturing (MoMs) for repeatable manufacturing activities while accommodating custom product requirements.Determine appropriate manufacturing methods, process sequences, tooling requirements, and equipment utilization.Evaluate manufacturability of engineering designs and recommend improvements that simplify production, reduce waste, and improve quality.Support the establishment of practical manufacturing standards, including process times, labor requirements, and production methods.Identify opportunities to standardize common manufacturing processes and assemblies across different trailer configurations.

Engineering-to-Manufacturing Coordination Serve as a technical liaison between Design Engineering and the manufacturing teams.Review engineering drawings, bills of materials, and product specifications for manufacturing readiness.Identify incomplete, conflicting, or impractical manufacturing information and coordinate resolution with the appropriate departments.Provide manufacturing feedback during design reviews and product development.Work with production personnel to identify and document field modifications, manufacturing deviations, and process improvements.Coordinate with Design Engineering to ensure approved changes are incorporated into the appropriate manufacturing documentation.Participate in pre-production reviews, production readiness meetings,...