Assembly Process Engineer

Department: Engineering / Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: On-site (Sallisaw, OK)

We are seeking an experienced Assembly Process Engineer to design, optimize, and maintain high-efficiency production and assembly systems. In this role, you will ensure that assembly equipment, specialized tooling, and operational workflows operate seamlessly to produce high-quality parts while minimizing downtime, scrap, and waste. Serving as a crucial bridge between product design, quality, and shop floor execution, you will lead continuous improvement initiatives, troubleshoot technical line bottlenecks, and drive overall production efficiency.

• Process Development & Optimization:

  • Design, evaluate, and refine assembly workflows (including automated washing, pressing, leak testing, and specialized joining operations).

  • Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to layout production lines and maximize throughput.

  • Establish and document standardized manufacturing processes tailored to varying part geometries, raw materials, and production volumes.

• Equipment & Automation Management:

  • Specify, select, and integrate custom tooling, machinery, and automation systems for manufacturing lines.

  • Oversee equipment installation, line setups, routine maintenance schedules, and calibration routines.

  • Enforce equipment safety standards and ensure proper ergonomic usage of tooling across all lines.

• Quality Assurance & Defect Reduction:

  • Monitor line quality metrics and implement immediate corrective actions for assembly defects or dimensional out-of-spec issues.

  • Partner closely with Quality Assurance teams to maintain strict adherence to engineering specs and customer requirements.

  • Conduct root-cause analyses (e.g., 5-Why, Fishbone) and adjust equipment parameters to eliminate recurring non-conformances.

• Troubleshooting & Operational Support:

  • Provide hands-on technical support directly on the plant floor to resolve machinery, process, and tooling breakdowns.

  • Drive initiatives that maximize overall line uptime and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

• Training & Cross-Functional Mentorship:

  • Train assembly operators and technicians on updated work instructions, new equipment setups, and refined processing methods.

  • Serve as a technical resource and subject matter expert for plant personnel.

  • Collaborate with Design Engineering, Production Control, and Maintenance to ensure seamless design-for-manufacturability (DFM) handoffs.

• Documentation & Data Standardization:

  • Author and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), setup sheets, and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA).

  • Drive workplace organization and line standardization through 5S and Lean methodologies.

  • Collect and analyze operational metrics (cycle times, machine downtime, scrap rates) to continuous improvement projects.

• Technical Competencies:

  • Robust understanding of mechanical systems, machine kinematics, automated assembly systems, and manufacturing operations.

  • Proficiency in CAD software for basic drafting, fixture modification, and visual layout adjustments.

  • High level of precision, analytical troubleshooting, and process control expertise.

• Problem-Solving & Methodologies:

  • Demonstrated ability to diagnose mechanical and procedural bottlenecks under live production timelines.

  • Practical application of Lean Manufacturing tools (Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen) and Six Sigma frameworks.

• Communication:

  • Strong interpersonal and technical writing skills with an ability to communicate effectively across shop floor operators, plant leadership, and external vendors.

• Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.

  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in assembly process engineering or manufacturing operations.

  • Formal certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt) or extensive practical manufacturing experience may substitute for a formal degree.

• Operates in a hybrid capacity split between a modern manufacturing plant floor and a collaborative engineering office space.

• Requires daily hands-on interactions with production equipment, operators, and cross-functional teams.

• Must be comfortable working in industrial environments subject to noise, ambient temperature shifts, and confined workspaces.

• Ability to manually lift and transport equipment, tooling, or components weighing up to 40 lbs.