Operations - Manufacturing Engineer

Position: Manufacturing Engineer

Reports To: Director of Operations

Department: Manufacturing

Location: Manufacturing Floor / Office

Company Overview

GROTE ELECTRONICS is a leading manufacturer of vehicle lighting and safety systems. We are committed to delivering exceptional quality and value to our customers—both internal and external. We value teamwork, clear communication of quality objectives, and hands-on engagement in improving our processes. Success is driven by individuals who actively apply Kaizen thinking, lead improvement efforts, and help advance operational excellence across the organization.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical hands-on role in supporting shop floor operations, leading continuous improvement efforts, and managing manufacturing-related projects from concept through implementation. This position requires strong project management skills, technical expertise, and the ability to lead and participate in Kaizen teams. Success in this role requires consistent, hands-on engagement on the production floor and active collaboration with manufacturing teams.

Primary Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Shop Floor Support

• Serve as a visible, hands-on engineering presence on the manufacturing floor, supporting daily operations and troubleshooting production issues.
• Assist manufacturing teams in improving productivity, quality, safety, and throughput.
• Develop, install, program, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot manufacturing automation and control systems.
• Oversee and mentor maintenance personnel in troubleshooting, repair, and optimization of automation equipment.

Continuous Improvement & Kaizen Leadership

• Lead and actively participate in Kaizen events and continuous improvement project teams.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to ensure all assembly processes operate efficiently and with minimal waste.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and develop cost-benefit analyses to support leadership decision-making.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) activities for production, equipment, engineering, and maintenance issues, ensuring sustainable corrective actions.

Project Management & New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Manage manufacturing-related projects using structured project management methodologies, including scope definition, timelines, resource coordination, and risk management.
• Lead cross-functional project teams for automation, equipment installation, process changes, and NPI activities.
• Participate in NPI project meetings, development of statements of work (SOWs), process FMEAs, and process flow documentation.
• Coordinate and manage automation and controls vendors to ensure on-time, on-budget project delivery.

Process & Equipment Development

• Research, recommend, and implement new equipment, automation solutions, and manufacturing programs.
• Support fixture and workstation design, setup, sampling, validation, and creation of work instructions.
• Conduct time studies and evaluate material handling processes, recommending improvements to efficiency and ergonomics.
• Establish and maintain work standards used for product costing, capacity planning, and productivity measurement.

Costing & Customer Support

• Provide manufacturing estimates (tooling, assembly, and test equipment) to support customer quotations and business development activities.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Electrical, Mechanical, or related field).
• Proven experience in project management, including leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple priorities.
• Strong hands-on problem-solving, root cause analysis, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading or participating in Kaizen events and Lean initiatives.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Outlook.
• Experience with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 2D and 3D, PLC programming,
• Experience with E1 is an asset.
• Experience with safety systems and manufacturing automation preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is an asset.
• Strong communication, team facilitation, and leadership skills.

Key Attributes for Success

• Hands-on, floor-focused approach with a strong sense of ownership.
• Ability to lead, influence, and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Results-driven mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Comfortable balancing engineering design, project leadership, and direct production support.

Compliance Statement

Grote Electronics complies with the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and all applicable employment laws. We are also committed to upholding the Ontario Human Rights Code, ensuring a workplace and recruitment process that is free from discrimination and barriers.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $75,000 - $85,000 per year

Benefits

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Work Location: In person