Job Overview:
The Manufacturing Engineer – Materials will serve as the technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting Engineering and Supply Chain teams, by bridging engineering intent with manufacturing and materials reality. This role supports the manufacturability, sourcing, and production of transmission components, including gears and splines, with a strong emphasis on aluminum, steel, and cast-iron materials and their behavior in manufacturing processes.
The engineer will provide hands-on technical guidance to engineers, buyers, suppliers, and internal manufacturing teams to ensure components meet performance, quality, durability, and cost targets.
This position requires deep experience in materials behavior, machining, heat treatment, and mechanical component performance under load and pressure, with a strong presence on the shop floor.
Responsibilities:
Technical SME Support (Engineering, Supply Chain)
- Act as the primary materials and manufacturing SME supporting Engineering and Supply Chain decisions
- Provide technical input for supplier selection, make/buy decisions, and cost-reduction initiatives
- Support Engineering teams by reviewing material selections, heat treatment requirements, tolerances, and manufacturability
- Review supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, and process controls for outsourced components
- Support RFQs by evaluating manufacturability, process feasibility, tolerances, material selection, and cost drivers
Manufacturing & Process Engineering
- Develop, review, and optimize manufacturing processes for in-house machined components (gears, splines, transmission parts)
- Evaluate machining strategies including turning, milling, shaping, broaching, grinding, and finishing operations
- Support heat treatment processes (carburizing, nitriding, induction hardening, stress relief, etc.) and understand their impact on material properties and part performance
- Troubleshoot manufacturing issues related to distortion, wear, fatigue, surface finish, and dimensional stability
Materials & Component Performance
- Apply expert knowledge of metals (steel alloys, aluminum, cast iron) and how they react to machining, heat treatment, and operational loads
- Evaluate and support material specifications and performance requirements for transmission components
- Understand gear and spline behavior under pressure, torque, and cyclic loading
- Support root cause analysis for field, quality, and production failures related to materials or processes
Design & Documentation
- Read, interpret, and review engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications
- Collaborate closely with Design Engineering to improve manufacturability, material selection, and cost efficiency
- Utilize CAD/CAM tools to review models, tooling strategies, and machining paths
Supplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work directly with suppliers to resolve materials, manufacturing, and quality issues
- Support PPAPs, capability studies, and process validations as needed
- Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to drive continuous improvement
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience in a manufacturing / production environment
- Strong background in machining and manufacturing of transmission or powertrain components
- Deep understanding of:
- Metals (steel, aluminum, cast iron) and material behavior
- Heat treatment processes and effects on strength, hardness, and distortion
- Gears, splines, and rotating components under load and pressure
- Proficiency with CAD and CAM software
- Expert ability to read and interpret blueprints, GD&T, and technical specifications
- Experience supporting or working directly with Supply Chain and Purchasing
- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies to support continuous improvement initiatives
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
