Job Title: Advanced Manufacturing Engineer (NPD/VAVE)
Location: Chattanooga, TN (On-Site)(Complete relocation provided by the client)
Department: Manufacturing Engineering
Employment Type: Full-Time/Direct Hire
Position Overview
The Advanced Manufacturing Engineer (NPD/VAVE) serves as a corporate-level engineering resource responsible for driving manufacturability, cost optimization, and process standardization across all Client divisions. This role directly supports New Product Development (NPD) and Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives aligned with the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Strategic Business Plan (AME SBP)—focusing on Innovation Enablement, Process Optimization, and Operational Excellence.
The engineer will collaborate cross-functionally with Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Site Manufacturing Engineering to ensure products are designed and industrialized efficiently, safely, and profitably.
Key Responsibilities
1. New Product Development (NPD/NPI)
- Serve as the manufacturing engineering representative on product development teams.
- Conduct Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFM/A) reviews at each design phase.
- Coordinate with Industrial Engineering and AME to develop manufacturing routings, labor standards, and process documentation.
- Support pilot and prototype build to validate design and process capability.
- Identify and resolve manufacturability issues early to reduce late-stage design changes.
- Ensure product launches meet cost, quality, and delivery objectives.
2. Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE)
- Identify and lead cost reduction projects across product lines focused on material, process, and design efficiency.
- Collaborate with Procurement, Design, and Operations to implement part consolidation and design simplification.
- Maintain a VAVE project funnel and savings dashboard aligned with corporate targets.
- Conduct competitive benchmarking, product teardowns, and process cost studies to support ideation.
- Validate and track cost savings using data-driven methods (standard labor, BOM impact, etc.).
3. Advanced Manufacturing Standards & Integration
- Support deployment and continuous improvement of corporate AME standards including:
- PFEP (Plan for Every Part)
- Line-Side Stock (LSS) systems
- MBOM accuracy and process routings
- PFMEA templates and work instruction formats
- Ensure consistent adoption of best practices in fabrication, welding, assembly, and paint processes.
- Partner with AME Systems, IE, and Paint Engineering teams to align new product/process requirements with automation and equipment capabilities.
4. Data & Digital Integration
- Utilize tools such as Oracle Fusion, SigmaNest, Power BI, and Excel-based models for cost and efficiency analysis.
- Support Industry 4.0 initiatives to bring digital visibility to manufacturing metrics.
- Promote data-driven decision-making for capacity planning, labor optimization, and cost competitiveness.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as a liaison between Corporate AME, Site ME, Design Engineering, Procurement, and Operations teams.
- Lead NPD/VAVE review meetings and workshops, tracking project progress, risks, and savings realization.
- Provide regular updates to AME leadership on key deliverables, KPIs, and strategic alignment.
6. Key Deliverables
- DFM/A review reports per product design phase.
- Approved routings and time studies before pilot builds.
- Annual validated VAVE cost savings.
- Standardized AME documentation across divisions.
- Weekly dashboards and KPI updates to leadership.
Qualifications and Competencies
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.
- 5–10 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Product Development, or VAVE.
- Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, and paint processes.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
- Solid foundation in Lean Manufacturing, PFMEA, Process Flow, and Cost Analysis.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.
- Experience with Oracle ERP and data visualization tools.
