Manufacturing Engineer (Paint)

About the Role

This is hands-on technical work involving the robotic painting and manufacture of injection molded plastic parts for automotive interior trim. Provide technical support and leadership to manufacturing production teams with a focus on operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for all paint-related activities associated with new product launches:
• Developing efficient and robust programs using 6 axis paint robots (ABB or Fanuc) to meet customer specs, maximize paint transfer efficiency, and maximize production throughput.
• Developing paint processes for 1K and 2K waterborne and solvent borne paint systems using automatic spray gun applicators.
• Working with external suppliers to develop paint racks that present parts to the robots for optimum paint coverage while minimizing cycle time and paint waste.
• Evaluating paint rack designs for efficient and safe part loading/unloading.
• Working with paint suppliers to ensure products meet customer requirements for dry film thickness, color, and gloss.
• Working with packaging suppliers to develop internal WIP packaging for safe, defect-free transportation.
• Writing standardized work instructions for best practices.
• Analyzing paint usage and cycle times for customer demands and regulatory emissions compliance.
• Continuously monitoring and improving the above tasks throughout the production life of the program.
• Supporting production teams with the daily operation of paint spray booths, robot programs, and paint processes.
• Troubleshooting process or equipment-related problems and providing solutions.
• Leading cross-functional teams in scrap reduction and continuous improvement activities focused on root-cause problem solving using 5-Why methodology.
• Documenting lessons learned and sharing results with peers.
• Conducting daily process audits for standardized work compliance.
• Working with maintenance personnel to develop appropriate PM schedules for paint spray equipment to improve operational reliability.
• Preparing proposals to procure new equipment for capital investment or cost-saving opportunities.
• Investigating new opportunities to automate existing operations via PLC programming to improve consistency and reduce labor burden.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software suite – Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.
• A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (Traditional Score of 26 on the cognitive portion).
• This position typically does require less than 5% travel.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar technical discipline OR 5 years of experience in an automotive manufacturing or paint coatings environment may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Experience

• Previous automotive class A painting experience.
• Programming using 6 axis ABB or Fanuc paint robots.
• Knowledge of various 1K and 2K paint systems (basecoat/clearcoat experience a plus).
• Experience with paint spray processing.
• Knowledge of 2K mixing equipment (ABB integrated fluid delivery & IPS systems a plus).
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Design and layout of paint spray booths and systems.
• PLC programming knowledge a plus (Allen Bradley preferred).
• Knowledge of various thermal curing methods including IR and convection (UV cure a plus).
• Surface preparation techniques including flame treatment and CO2 cleaning.
• Knowledge of paint chemistry and the ability to work with paint suppliers on usage optimization, formulation compatibility, paint performance, and quality problems.