Manufacturing Engineer

DEMA Engineering Company | Full-Time | On-Site | St. Louis, MO

ARE YOU AN ENGINEER WHO WANTS TO FIX IT, IMPROVE IT, AND OWN THE RESULT?

If you're looking for a manufacturing engineering role where you're actually on the floor solving problems, not just writing reports about them, this is it. DEMA Engineering Company is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer who is ready to dig into complex process challenges, lead meaningful Lean initiatives, and drive measurable improvements across our St. Louis manufacturing operations.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for developing, improving, and sustaining manufacturing processes that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. This is a hands-on, floor-present role with a specific focus on chemical treatment (CTD) processes, brazing operations, scrap and rework reduction, and Lean manufacturing implementation.

You'll partner closely with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and EHS - leading root cause investigations, process improvement projects, and cross-functional initiatives that make a visible difference in how we build our products.

This is not a back-office engineering position. It's a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of data and the production floor.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Develop, troubleshoot, and improve manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, and production methods, with focused attention on CTD chemical treatment and brazing operations
• Analyze scrap, rework, downtime, and process variation using performance data; implement corrective and preventive actions that stick
• Lead Lean manufacturing and 5S initiatives to improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost performance
• Conduct structured root cause analysis to resolve manufacturing issues and prevent recurrence
• Create and maintain process documentation, including standard work, work instructions, process flows, and time studies
• Develop and sustain process controls, including process capability analysis and statistical process control (SPC) where applicable
• Support new product introductions, prototype builds, and production line development
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with applicable safety, chemical handling, and environmental regulations; support wastewater and EPA compliance activities in partnership with EHS
• Partner with Quality to investigate nonconformances, implement corrective actions, and improve first-pass yield
• Train production employees on equipment, processes, and standard work
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and external vendors.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant hands-on manufacturing experience
• 3-5 years of manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment
• Demonstrated experience with Lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and root cause analysis
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as brazing, welding, chemical treatment, assembly, or similar
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, schematics, and engineering drawings
• Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, DraftSight, or similar)
• Experience using data and metrics to drive process decisions and track KPIs
• Familiarity with process control methods, including standard work, process capability, and SPC
• Knowledge of safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements in a manufacturing setting
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365; advanced Excel skills for data analysis preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent)
• Experience with chemical treatment (CTD) systems and/or brazing furnace operations
• Experience with CNC machining, additive manufacturing, or 3D printing
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality systems and manufacturing quality management practices
• Experience supporting environmental compliance activities, including chemical safety, hazardous material handling, and wastewater/EPA requirements

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Within your first few months, you will have established working relationships on the production floor, completed a meaningful assessment of your key process areas, and made tangible early progress on scrap reduction or a Lean initiative. You'll know you're thriving when your cross-functional partners come to you first with a problem, and when the data shows that your processes are more capable, more consistent, and more efficient than when you arrived.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Contribution
• Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Programs and On-Site Fitness Center
• Employee Assistance Resources
• Stability and long-term growth potential at a family-owned, global manufacturer

READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

If you bring the technical depth, the problem-solving drive, and the floor-level instincts to make manufacturing genuinely better, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and join a team that has been engineering quality solutions since 1956.