Job Opportunities at ZMicro

As a team member at Zmicro, you will have influence and make an important impact by applying your expertise and skills to support our customers. ZMicro works with all branches of the military and is uniquely positioned to address the advanced requirements of special ops and elite forces with its customized, rugged computing solutions. You will support the team in the development of new solutions and exciting technologies directly supporting the U.S. Military. You will be an important member of a talented team and will be part of unleashing the company’s tremendous growth potential.

The Manufacturing Engineer II works closely with Design Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, Test, and other functional groups to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, manufacturability, and production capacity. The position is expected to apply sound engineering judgment, data-driven problem solving, Lean manufacturing principles, and disciplined configuration and documentation practices in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will demonstrate increasing ownership of assigned processes and projects, provide technical guidance to production personnel, and contribute meaningfully to New Product Introduction (NPI), process validation, root-cause investigations, and continuous improvement activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Other duties may be assigned)

Manufacturing Process Ownership

• Own defined manufacturing processes, production cells, equipment, or product families with limited supervision.
• Develop, implement, optimize, and sustain manufacturing methods that support product quality, repeatability, throughput, cost, and delivery requirements.
• Evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to reduce scrap, rework, cycle time, downtime, labor content, and other forms of waste.
• Perform time studies, labor-standard development, takt-time analysis, capacity analysis, workflow evaluation, and line balancing as required.
• Monitor assigned processes for performance and stability and initiate corrective action when performance falls outside established requirements.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to production personnel and resolve moderately complex manufacturing issues in a timely manner.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Manufacturing Readiness

• Support NPI builds, design transfer, prototype and pre-production builds, and formal release-to-manufacturing activities.
• Review product designs, drawings, bills of material, and specifications for manufacturability, assembly risk, serviceability, and production readiness.
• Participate in cross-functional design and production-readiness reviews and identify manufacturing risks before full production release.
• Develop or update routings, process flows, work instructions, tooling requirements, labor standards, and other manufacturing documentation required for production.
• Support first article, qualification, pilot-build, process validation, and equipment qualification activities as applicable.
• Capture lessons learned from prototype and pre-production builds and ensure appropriate improvements are incorporated before production release.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Lead small-to-medium continuous-improvement projects with measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, or capacity.
• Apply Lean manufacturing methods including 5S, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, standard work, visual management, waste reduction, and process-flow improvement.
• Use data and statistical methods to identify process variation, establish priorities, and verify the effectiveness of implemented improvements.
• Participate in or lead focused cross-functional problem-solving events and ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

Problem Solving, Quality & Process Control

• Lead routine root-cause investigations using appropriate methods such as 5-Why, fishbone analysis, 8D, containment planning, and corrective action.
• Support the development and maintenance of PFMEAs, control plans, process-flow documentation, and risk-reduction actions.
• Apply SPC, Cp/Cpk, basic measurement-system analysis, capability studies, and other data-driven methods to evaluate manufacturing performance.
• Partner with Quality to investigate nonconformances, recurring defects, escapes, and process-related corrective actions.
• Support implementation and verification of corrective and preventive actions affecting manufacturing processes.

Tooling, Fixtures & Equipment

• Specify, design, improve, or qualify fixtures, tooling, jigs, production aids, and ergonomic improvements needed to support manufacturing.
• Support equipment selection, installation, setup, acceptance testing, and qualification activities.
• Develop equipment requirements and acceptance criteria and coordinate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, vendors, and other stakeholders as required.
• Ensure manufacturing tools and equipment are appropriate for the process and used in accordance with applicable safety, quality, ESD, and calibration requirements.

Manufacturing Documentation & Configuration Control

• Independently create and revise manufacturing work instructions, standard operating procedures, process flows, routings, and related controlled documentation.
• Support creation and maintenance of bills of material and manufacturing data in accordance with approved engineering and configuration-control processes.
• Prepare engineering change orders, implementation plans, manufacturing reports, validation records, and equipment acceptance documentation as assigned.
• Ensure production documentation accurately reflects the approved configuration and that changes are implemented in a controlled manner.
• Use ERP/MRP systems, including QAD where applicable, to review and maintain manufacturing data supporting planning and production execution.

Cross-Functional Support

• Coordinate effectively with Design Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, Test, Customer Service, and Maintenance to resolve manufacturing issues and implement improvements.
• Provide manufacturing input into engineering changes, component substitutions, supplier changes, obsolescence issues, and other changes that may affect production.
• Support Supply Chain and Quality with technical evaluation of supplier-related manufacturing issues when required.
• Communicate project status, risks, technical findings, and recommended actions clearly to engineering and operations leadership.

Training, Leadership & Mentoring

• Train operators and technicians on new or revised processes, work instructions, equipment, tooling, and production methods.
• Coordinate technicians, operators, and support functions during implementation of manufacturing changes and improvement projects.
• Provide day-to-day technical guidance to Manufacturing Engineer I personnel, interns, technicians, and production employees as appropriate.
• Lead focused cross-functional problem-solving activities through technical credibility and collaboration rather than formal authority.
• Present project results, technical analyses, and improvement recommendations to Engineering and Operations leadership.

Quality Management System & Compliance

• Perform assigned responsibilities in accordance with ZMicro’s Quality Management System and applicable AS9100 requirements.
• Support internal and external audits within areas of responsibility and assist with corrective actions resulting from audit findings.
• Maintain accurate and complete engineering records to support configuration control, traceability, process validation, and continuous improvement.
• Follow applicable ESD, safety, workmanship, inspection, and controlled-document requirements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI):

Manufacturing Process Improvement

Demonstrated improvements in scrap, rework, cycle time, labor efficiency, throughput, downtime, or capacity within assigned processes.

Corrective Action Effectiveness

Timely closure and sustained effectiveness of manufacturing corrective actions and root-cause investigations.

NPI / Production Readiness

Completion of assigned manufacturing-readiness deliverables in support of planned prototype, pre-production, and production-release milestones.

Documentation Accuracy & Timeliness

Accurate and timely completion of routings, work instructions, process documentation, engineering changes, and related manufacturing records.

Note: Other KPIs may be assigned as needed

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Typically 2-4 years of manufacturing engineering or closely related experience; 3-5 years may be preferred for experience in regulated aerospace, defense, medical-device, or similarly controlled manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own defined manufacturing processes or smaller engineering projects rather than functioning solely in a task-support role.
• Working knowledge of process development, process optimization, time studies, labor standards, capacity analysis, line balancing, fixture/tooling development, and equipment qualification.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing methods including Kaizen, 5S, value-stream mapping, standard work, and waste reduction.
• Working knowledge of SPC, Cp/Cpk, root-cause analysis, 8D, PFMEA, control plans, process validation, and data-driven troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and technical documentation; GD&T knowledge or formal training preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and common engineering tools; experience with CAD and Minitab or comparable statistical-analysis software preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and/or MES systems; QAD experience is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively across Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, Test, and Production.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complete assignments in a deadline-driven, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with AS9100 and regulated aerospace/defense manufacturing is strongly preferred.

Preferred Certifications & Training:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
• GD&T certification or formal GD&T training.
• AS9100 familiarity or internal-auditor training.
• Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) or comparable quality credential.
• CAPM or other introductory project-management credential.

Advancement Expectations:

Progression to Manufacturing Engineer III generally requires demonstrated ability to lead medium-complexity projects with measurable business results; independently manage scope, schedule, risks, and stakeholders; lead cross-functional teams through technical tradeoffs and implementation; effectively apply PFMEA, control plans, SPC, capability analysis, and validation methods; own NPI or process-transfer workstreams with limited supervision; consistently mentor junior personnel; and translate production-floor issues into scalable process or system improvements.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and use hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.

Benefits:

In addition to competitive compensation, ZMicro offers a benefits package which includes generous Personal Time Off, medical/dental/vision insurance, a performance-oriented incentive plan, and the option to participate in our company-sponsored 401(k) plan.

Salary range: $80,000 – $90,000 annually

To Apply:  Please submit your resume to Careers@Zmicro.com.

Zmicro is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Zmicro does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.