Position: Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Location: Utica, NY
Our Client, Riverhawk Company, a leading provider of innovative engineered solutions for rotating equipment and industrial applications, is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to strengthen the flow, quality, and efficiency of our manufacturing operations from order release through final shipment.
This role is well suited for a hands-on engineer who enjoys working on the shop floor, spotting potential issues early, and turning observations into practical improvements. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will collaborate closely with CNC machining, assembly, balance, inspection, and engineering teams to minimize scrap and rework, improve routing accuracy, reinforce process consistency, and ensure production moves smoothly across all stages.
Rather than simply maintaining existing processes, this role focuses on strengthening and improving them — preventing problems before they arise and driving reliable, first-time-right execution throughout manufacturing.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Lead hands-on manufacturing process improvements across CNC machining, assembly, balance, inspection, and supporting operations
• Identify and reduce scrap, rework, bottlenecks, and systemic inefficiencies throughout production
• Review and optimize routings, workflows, and manufacturing sequences to improve throughput and clarity
• Analyze production trends and proactively address emerging quality, capacity, or flow issues
• Partner closely with Engineering to ensure manufacturability of new and existing products
• Improve end-to-end production flow from order release through final shipment
• Support the development, implementation, and adherence to standard work and process documentation
• Lead root cause and corrective action activities tied to quality escapes and repeat issues
• Work directly with supervisors and shop-floor employees to identify and implement practical improvements
• Strengthen accountability, consistency, and execution discipline across manufacturing teams
• Support ERP-based improvements related to bills of material, routings, scheduling accuracy, and production visibility
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable operational gains
• Promote a culture of precision, ownership, and first-time-good performance on the shop floor
• Present findings, trends, and recommendations to manufacturing leadership as needed
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or production improvement roles
• Strong hands-on shop-floor experience in CNC machining or mixed-process manufacturing environments
• Proven ability to improve production flow, reduce scrap/rework, and optimize routings or processes
• Working knowledge of ERP-driven manufacturing systems (SyteLine preferred)
• Solid understanding of bills of materials, routings, and production sequencing
• Comfortable working directly with operators, supervisors, engineers, and leadership
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to own projects from problem identification through implementation
• Experience with Lean tools (5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping) and root cause corrective action, preferred
• Background in engineered-to-order or complex manufacturing environments, preferred
Benefits:
• 96 hours PTO + 56 hours Paid Sick Leave annually for new hires
• Ten paid holidays
• Discretionary performance bonuses
• Medical insurance with company-funded HRA
• Two dental plan options
• Vision insurance
• Immediate 100% vesting in 401(k) with 3% Company Contribution
• Company-paid short-term disability and $25,000 life insurance
• Optional long-term disability and additional life insurance
• Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
Salary: $70,000 - $95,000 annually
M3 Placement and Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.