Associate NPI Manufacturing Equipment Development Engineer

About the Role

As an Associate NPI Manufacturing Equipment Development Engineer, you will be a primary technical driver for the deployment, commissioning, and operational stability of VulcanForms’ industrial hardware infrastructure. This role spans diverse and advanced assets, requiring a proactive problem-solver who can ensure machinery runs reliably in a 24/7 production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Equipment Commissioning & Validation: Lead the end-to-end deployment, site integration, and qualification (IQ/OQ/SAT) of diverse industrial manufacturing equipment, including:
• Metal 3D Printers
• Vacuum/Atmosphere Heat Treatment Furnaces
• Depowdering systems
• Wire EDM
• Build Plate Resurfacing/Milling machinery
• Industrial Clean lines
• Equipment Selection and Implementation: Lead selection and procurement efforts. Design and integrate machine fixturing and workholding solutions.
• Vendor & OEM Interface: Act as the primary technical point of contact for external equipment manufacturers, managing delivery timelines, technical installation requirements, and troubleshooting hardware anomalies.
• Hardware Stability & Optimization: Define, monitor, and improve equipment-level performance metrics, driving initiatives to maximize OEE and Uptime while minimizing MTBF and MTTR.
• Documentation & Training: Author SOPs, equipment preventative maintenance schedules, and facility integration logs. Train production staff on safe and effective equipment operation.
• Cross-Functional Execution: Collaborate closely with Facilities, EHS, Quality, and Process Engineering teams to ensure safe integration into factory floor layouts and enterprise data/SCADA networks.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 0 to 2 years of progressive engineering experience managing complex equipment deployment, factory automation, or industrial machinery integration.
• Documented experience executing formal equipment qualification protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) and mechanical troubleshooting frameworks.
• Hands-on familiarity with at least two major industrial equipment categories (e.g., CNC/EDM machining, vacuum/fluid/pneumatic systems, high-temperature thermal systems, robotic automation, or industrial chemical/clean processing).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Robotics Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong project management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage vendor relationships.
• Ability to clearly report machine readiness metrics to leadership.