Manufacturing Engineer
$70k - $90k/yr+ Quarterly profit sharing + Employee referral bonus
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Associate's
Grand Island, NE, USA
In PersonFirst shift: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Manufacturing & Process EngineeringManufacturing Engineering
About the job
Requirements
- An associate's or bachelor's degree in Welding Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Three to seven years of manufacturing engineering experience with an emphasis on welding applications.
- Experience programming industrial robotic welding systems such as FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa/Motoman, or KUKA.
- Strong understanding of MIG welding processes and weld parameter development.
- Experience in sheet metal fabrication, including laser cutting, punching, forming, bending, welding, and assembly.
- Proficiency with CAD/CAM software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and nesting software.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, PFMEA, Control Plans, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, weld symbols, and AWS welding standards.
- Analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop, program, and optimize robotic welding applications using industrial robots such as FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa/Motoman, or KUKA.
- Perform teach pendant and offline programming for new and existing robotic welding applications.
- Develop, validate, and optimize weld parameters, including voltage, amperage, travel speed, wire feed speed, shielding gas, and torch angles, to maximize weld quality and productivity.
- Program and optimize CNC manufacturing equipment, including laser cutters, turret punches, press brakes, tube benders, and other fabrication equipment, using SolidWorks, AutoCAD, nesting software, and related programming tools.
- Develop, evaluate, and continuously improve manufacturing processes for laser cutting, punching, forming, bending, robotic welding, manual welding, and assembly operations.
- Design, validate, and improve tooling, fixtures, weld fixtures, and jigs to improve quality, repeatability, and productivity.
- Support New Product Introduction by reviewing customer designs for manufacturability, developing weld sequences and tooling concepts, and preparing manufacturing documentation.
- Troubleshoot robotic welding issues, including fit-up, distortion, porosity, spatter, burn-through, and lack of fusion.
- Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve quality, productivity, and process stability.
- Analyze production flow, identify bottlenecks, and implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives to reduce waste and improve throughput.
- Collaborate with customers, sales, quality, operations, and production personnel to ensure products meet customer specifications, quality standards, and delivery schedules.
- Support cost reduction initiatives through process improvements, automation, tooling improvements, and cycle time reduction.
- Ensure compliance with company safety policies, environmental regulations, and industry best practices.
- Lead or participate in capital equipment evaluations, justification, installation, startup, and optimization of robotic welding cells and automated manufacturing systems.
- Work with equipment manufacturers, system integrators, and automation suppliers during installation, programming, and commissioning activities.
- Train production personnel on new robotic welding programs, equipment, and standardized work instructions.
- Maintain accurate engineering documentation, work instructions, process sheets, PFMEAs, control plans, and programming backups.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with offline robotic programming software such as RoboGuide, RobotStudio, MotoSim, or DELMIA.
- Experience programming both FANUC and ABB robotic systems.
- Knowledge of advanced robotic welding technologies, including vision-guided welding, laser seam tracking, Through-Arc Seam Tracking (TAST), and adaptive welding systems.
- Familiarity with AWS D1.1, ISO welding standards, and related fabrication specifications.
- Ability to simulate robotic weld paths, reach studies, and cycle times.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience.
- Previous experience in a contract manufacturing or job shop environment.
- Knowledge of automation, robotics integration, and manufacturing system optimization.
- Strong understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
About the company
Standard Iron provides metal fabrication services for OEMs, handling parts from simple shear and brake work to intricate welded assemblies. Customers submit parts designs and the company uses its full range of metalworking equipment along with design support to turn those designs into finished components. Its process is supported by electronic data interchange, bar-coded data collection, and other integrated systems to ensure fast communication and accurate production. By continually upgrading technology and investing in employee training, the company aims to deliver reliable, high-quality parts that meet customers’ needs and achieve total customer satisfaction.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Monticello, Minnesota
Founded
1930
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Standard Iron reported 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing space in 2025, supporting larger contracts.
- Helgesen adds market-leading hydraulic tank design, strengthening cross-sell into fuel, coolant, and containment tanks.
- High-power fiber laser investments since 2024 improve throughput and reduce secondary operations, boosting margins.
What critics are saying
- Helgesen integration after August 2024 strains management while ORG pushes executive recruitment and technology changes.
- Heavy reliance on multi-site manufacturing raises execution risk across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil.
- A downturn in OEM capital spending would hit custom metal fabrication orders quickly in 2026.
What makes Standard Iron unique
- Standard Iron spans seven facilities across North America, including U.S., Mexico, Poland, and Brazil.
- The August 2, 2024 Helgesen acquisition broadened tanks, weldments, and fluid-conditioning fabrication capabilities.
- Owner Resource Group recapitalized Standard Iron in January 2022 for technology and acquisition-led growth.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Vacation
- Profit Sharing