Manufacturing Engineer

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

Department: Manufacturing Engineering
Location: Nicholasville, KY
Reports To: Director of Operations
FLSA Status: Exempt
Travel: Minimal to None

Join a Legacy of Security and Innovation

For more than 160 years, Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) has been a trusted leader in high-security locking solutions, protecting people, assets, and critical environments around the world. Our products secure everything from gun safes and commercial safes to ATMs, vaults, and highly sensitive government facilities.

As we continue to grow and innovate, we are seeking a motivated Manufacturing Engineer to join our team in Nicholasville, Kentucky. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by improving manufacturing processes, supporting new product introductions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that directly influence quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for maximizing production output, improving manufacturing and assembly processes, supporting new product introductions, and ensuring the effective use of equipment and materials. This position partners closely with Operations, Quality, Production, and Research & Development to maintain high standards of safety, quality, cost efficiency, and on-time delivery.

The ideal candidate is a problem-solver who enjoys working on the production floor, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and implementing practical solutions that improve performance and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Process Improvement

• Develop, evaluate, implement, improve, and document manufacturing processes, tooling, equipment, and work instructions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Analyze production workflows and recommend process improvements.
• Design and optimize equipment layouts, workflow, and workspace utilization for maximum efficiency and safety.
• Evaluate equipment and manufacturing processes to produce high-quality products at competitive costs.

New Product Introduction & Validation

• Plan and manage product quality activities during transfer from development to production.
• Support design validation, process validation, and production readiness activities.
• Conduct manufacturing feasibility reviews and develop assembly processes and tooling solutions.
• Collaborate with R&D and Product Development teams to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability.

Technical Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical manufacturing issues.
• Troubleshoot assembly, testing, and production line challenges to improve uptime and product quality.
• Analyze rework and scrap trends to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Provide technical leadership and support for repair and troubleshooting activities involving mechanical assemblies, electrical systems, and PCBs.

Lean Manufacturing Leadership

• Lead and promote Lean Manufacturing initiatives, including:
• 5S
• SMED
• Value Stream Mapping
• Standard Work
• Continuous Improvement Events
• Train and coach production personnel on Lean principles and best practices.

Quality & Compliance

• Facilitate corrective and preventive action efforts to resolve customer and internal quality concerns.
• Support ISO 9001 quality management system implementation and maintenance.
• Partner with Quality and Operations teams to improve product quality and delivery performance.

Training & Collaboration

• Develop asse