Job description:
The Manufacturing Engineer – Castings serves as the technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for cast components, supporting the Supply Chain team by bridging supplier capabilities, casting processes, and in-house machining requirements. This role is responsible for ensuring the manufacturability, quality, and cost effectiveness of cast piston housings, covers, and structural housings used in production.
The engineer will provide deep expertise in casting processes, material behavior, defect prevention, and post-cast machining, working closely with suppliers, buyers, and internal manufacturing teams to deliver robust, production-ready cast components.
Responsibilities:
- Act as the primary SME for casting processes including sand, permanent mold, die casting, and/or investment casting
- Provide technical guidance on material selection, alloy chemistry, solidification behavior, and heat treatment
- Evaluate and prevent common casting defects such as porosity, shrinkage, inclusions, hot tears, and warpage
- Support Supply Chain and Purchasing during RFQs, sourcing decisions, and supplier selection
- Review supplier casting methods, tooling designs, gating and riser strategies, and process controls
- Provide make/buy recommendations and cost-reduction opportunities related to cast components
- Serve as the technical interface between buyers and casting suppliers
- Ensure cast designs are optimized for downstream machining of piston housings, covers, and housings
- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to establish machining strategies that account for casting variability
- Troubleshoot machining issues related to casting quality, material inconsistency, or distortion
- Support PPAPs, capability studies, and casting process validations
- Lead or support root cause analysis for casting-related quality or production issues
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to improve yield, quality, and cost
- Partner with Design Engineering to improve cast part manufacturability and cost early in the design phase
- Work closely with Quality, Manufacturing, and Operations teams to support production needs
- Maintain strong presence on the shop floor and at supplier facilities as required
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Materials Engineering
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering with a strong focus on cast components
- Hands-on experience with aluminum and/or iron castings used in machined production parts
- Strong understanding of casting processes, defect mechanisms, and post-cast heat treatment
- Experience supporting machining operations for cast components
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and material specifications
Benefits:
- 6% retirement plan contribution by SAPA Transmission (regardless of employee contribution to 401k plan).
- Paid Holiday, Time Off (PTO), and sick time.
- Medical, Rx, dental, vision and life insurance benefits with minimal employee contribution.
- Short and long-term disability.
SAPA Transmission is an Equal Opportunity Employer
