Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field.
2-5+ years of experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering roles.
Proficient in data analysis tools like Excel, Power BI, SQL.
Experience in facility layout tools such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma principles and time studies.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Hands-on experience on the production floor.
Responsibilities
Develop and optimize facility layouts for efficient production.
Conduct time studies and analyze workflows to find improvements.
Collaborate with teams to meet safety and expansion requirements.
Analyze production data to support new equipment justifications.
Develop ROI models and payback analyses for expenditures.
Document machine processing steps and workflow instructions.
Coordinate training and ensure smooth production handover.
Benefits
Opportunities for continuous learning and development.
Collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
Involvement in impactful automation initiatives.
Hands-on experience in facility optimization and machine processes.
Full Job Description
Position Summary:
The Process Engineer will serve as the technical bridge between manufacturing operations and automated equipment throughout its lifecycle - from initial concept and vendor selection through design, build, installation, and steady-state production. This role is responsible for deeply understanding new automated/semi-automated equipment during the purchase and design phase, representing process and operator requirements in equipment specifications, and leading or supporting deployment activities to ensure the machine meets safety, quality, throughput, and reliability objectives. The Process Engineer will also develop and refine standard operating procedures, work instructions, and process parameters for the equipment, and will analyze current processes to identify improvement opportunities that inform capital project justifications.
Key Responsibilities
Equipment Purchase & Design Phase
Partner with equipment vendors and internal stakeholders (engineering, quality, maintenance, EHS, operations) during the design and specification phase of new automated equipment.
Develop and review User Requirement Specifications (URS), Functional Design Specifications (FDS), and technical requirements to ensure equipment will meet process, quality, ergonomic, and safety needs.
Evaluate vendor proposals and machine designs (mechanical, controls, PLC/HMI logic, fixturing, tooling, material handling) for technical soundness, manufacturability, and fit with existing processes.
Participate in design reviews, risk assessments (PFMEA, machine risk assessment), and layout/ergonomic evaluations prior to build.
Identify and document process, tooling, and facility requirements (utilities, footprint, fixturing, material flow) needed to support the new equipment.
Build the technical and financial justification for capital projects by quantifying current-state process limitations (cycle time, scrap, labor, downtime, ergonomics) and projected improvements from automation.
Project Deployment & Commissioning
Represent process engineering on cross-functional project teams from kickoff through handover to production.
Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at the vendor site and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) after installation to confirm the equipment meets contractual and process specifications.
Support installation, rigging, utility hook-up coordination, and startup activities in collaboration with maintenance/facilities.
Drive equipment qualification activities (IQ/OQ/PQ, capability studies, Gage R&R) as applicable to confirm the machine consistently produces to specification.
Track open issues, punch lists, and vendor commitments through resolution, ensuring root-cause closure of any performance gaps identified during ramp-up.
Coordinate training for operators, technicians, and maintenance staff on new equipment operation and troubleshooting.
Process Development & Continuous Improvement
Study current manual, semi-automated, or legacy processes to understand process flow, cycle times, failure modes, and constraints as input to automation project scope.
Develop, document, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, control plans, and process parameter sheets for new and existing equipment.
Modify or optimize existing processes/equipment settings to improve safety, quality, cycle time, uptime, and cost.
Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment/process-related quality or downtime issues (e.g., 8D, 5-Why, fishbone).
Apply Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement methods to identify and eliminate waste, and to build the business case for future automation investment.
Maintain process documentation, control plans, and PFMEAs in alignment with quality system requirements (e.g., IATF16949, ISO9001, as applicable).
Sustaining Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Provide ongoing engineering support for automated equipment post-launch, including troubleshooting, minor design modifications, and performance monitoring (OEE, downtime, scrap trends).
Collaborate with maintenance/controls engineering on preventive maintenance plans, spare parts strategy, and obsolescence management for new equipment.
Work with EHS to ensure machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and safety systems meet regulatory and company standards before and after deployment.
Communicate project status, risks, and equipment performance to engineering leadership and plant stakeholders.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Electrical, or a related Engineering discipline (or equivalent experience).
3-7+ years of process/manufacturing engineering experience, with direct involvement in automated equipment specification, procurement, or deployment (adjust range per level).
Experience writing or reviewing URS/FDS documents and participating in FAT/SAT is strongly preferred.
Technical Skills
Working knowledge of automation fundamentals: PLC/HMI logic, robotics, vision systems, sensors, conveyance, and basic controls concepts (programming not always required, but literacy expected).
Familiarity with machine safety standards (e.g., ANSI B11, OSHA, NFPA 79, or regional equivalents) and risk assessment methods.
Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) for reviewing layouts and fixture/tooling designs.
Experience with process capability and quality tools: PFMEA, control plans, SPC, Gage R&R, root cause analysis.
Proficient in Microsoft Office/Excel; experience with project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet) a plus.
Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma exposure (Green Belt or higher preferred).
Core Competencies
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent equipment projects and vendor relationships.
Ability to translate operator/process needs into clear technical specifications for equipment vendors.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable building data-driven justifications for capital investment.
Effective written and verbal communication skills across engineering, operations, and leadership audiences.
Hands-on, floor-based approach - comfortable working on the shop floor with operators, technicians, and vendors.
About Fanatics
Fanatics is a leading retailer of licensed sports merchandise. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise in the world. Fanatics offers a wide range of products, including jerseys, hats, and other apparel, as well as collectibles and memorabilia. The company has partnerships with all major sports leagues and teams, as well as with individual athletes. Fanatics is committed to providing a seamless shopping experience for its customers and has invested heavily in technology and logistics to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
