Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Grand Rapids, MI, 49507
Summary

Michigan Wheel Operations is a marine propeller manufacturer serving commercial, recreational, and government fleets, vertically integrated with an in-house foundry, CNC machining, and finishing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Manufacturing Engineer is a senior, hands-on role at the core of our machining operation. The role provides day-to-day CNC programming coverage for the company's mills and lathes, develops tooling and fixturing, supports operators on the floor, and leads Michigan Wheel's move to full 5-axis machining. It also mentors a degreed engineer into mill programming to strengthen coverage and succession within a small, experienced team, with room to grow alongside the company's expanding use of advanced manufacturing technology and, over time, into team leadership.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Program CNC mills and lathes across a mixed fleet (3-axis, 3+2, and 5-axis mills; horizontal and large vertical lathes), providing reliable programming coverage day to day.
• Develop tooling and fixturing for efficient, repeatable machining of complex propeller geometries.
• Lead the transition to full 5-axis machining, including process development, tooling, and post-processor setup and validation.
• Support CNC operators on the floor with setups, programs, tooling, and machine questions.
• Mentor a degreed engineer into mill programming and help document programming knowledge to strengthen team coverage and succession.
• Advance optimization and new methods within existing equipment, tooling, budget, and floor-skill constraints.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 7+ years programming CNC mills and lathes (multi-axis milling and turning), with strong tooling and fixturing experience.

Skills

• Expertise with Siemens NX CAM, including 5-axis programming and post-processor development.
• Deep knowledge of machining processes, cutting tools, fixturing, and metrology.
• Strong GD&T fluency and the ability to hold tight tolerances on difficult materials.
• Interest in mentoring programmers, with the opportunity to grow into team leadership over time.
• Interest in advancing our methods and technology a plus: parametric or template-driven programming for families of similar propeller programs (variations in blade shape, number, pitch, and diameter), or our growing use of robotics, 3D printing, and laser scanning.
• Strong communication, a pragmatic approach to working within real shop constraints, and the credibility to be a go-to resource for operators and engineers.

Requirements

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Michigan Wheel is not able to provide work visa sponsorship for this position at this time.
• This position requires access to technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants must qualify as a "U.S. Person" as defined under the ITAR (a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident / green card holder, or a protected individual), or must otherwise be authorized to access ITAR-controlled information.

Physical Demands

Regular presence on the shop floor supporting machining operations. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, work in proximity to machine tools, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment

A combination of office and active machine-shop environments, with exposure to noise, moving machinery, coolants, and metal chips. Personal protective equipment is required on the floor.
Supervisory Responsibilities

None initially. This role mentors a degreed engineer in CNC programming and helps develop programming standards and coverage, with the potential to grow into a team leadership role over time.
First 90 Days and First Year
First 90 Days

• Ramp on the existing mill and lathe program library, post-processors, and fixturing conventions.
• Begin providing day-to-day programming coverage and floor support.
• Learn the full asset base and begin documenting current programming practices.

First Year

• Own programming across the asset base and stabilize coverage, including during vacations and absences.
• Advance the transition to full 5-axis machining, with validated processes on target parts.
• Establish a mentoring cadence with the degreed engineer and begin transferring mill-programming knowledge.
• Introduce optimization or parametric / template-driven improvements within existing equipment and budget.