Engineering Specialist – Automotive Production
Athens, Alabama | Toyota Production System | Plant Engineering
Put your engineering skills to work improving manufacturing processes, launching new automotive products, and solving production challenges on the plant floor.
TBA is seeking a Engineering Specialist to join its Plant Engineering team in Athens, Alabama. This role focuses on production engineering, equipment and process improvements, new product launches, cost reduction, and manufacturing problem-solving within an automotive production environment.
You’ll work with manufacturing, maintenance, quality, and corporate engineering teams to improve equipment performance, product quality, safety, and productivity. From coordinating new equipment installations to investigating recurring downtime, your work will directly support plant performance and continuous improvement.
This opportunity is suited for an engineer who enjoys hands-on technical work, analyzing problems, implementing solutions, and seeing improvements translate into real production results.
Why You’ll Want This Job
- Hands-on manufacturing engineering: Work directly with production equipment, manufacturing processes, tooling, and plant operations.
- New product launch involvement: Help prepare equipment, processes, layouts, and production systems for new automotive products.
- Continuous improvement: Apply Toyota Production System principles, kaizen, and cost-reduction methods to improve plant performance.
- Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with manufacturing, maintenance, quality, and corporate engineering teams.
- Technical problem-solving: Investigate equipment downtime, process defects, safety concerns, and productivity issues.
- Career development: Build experience across production engineering, equipment modifications, PLC troubleshooting, and automotive manufacturing processes.
What You’ll DoManufacturing Engineering & Process Improvement
- Develop, coordinate, and implement manufacturing processes, procedures, and techniques.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, product quality, productivity, safety, and profitability.
- Research and implement manufacturing methods and technologies that improve process performance.
- Lead or support kaizen activities, cost-reduction projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Analyze manufacturing costs, evaluate new concepts, and present findings and recommendations to management.
- Develop countermeasures for quality, safety, ergonomic, and productivity issues.
New Product Launches & Production Preparation
- Develop production preparation plans for new automotive products.
- Coordinate requirements for new equipment, jigs, fixtures, tooling, and other production resources.
- Develop equipment specifications, obtain supplier quotes, evaluate costs, and support purchasing and installation.
- Update plant layouts and process flows for new equipment, modified processes, and revised products.
- Coordinate plant-side activities with corporate Production Engineering.
- Set up equipment, support production trials, and train manufacturing and maintenance personnel.
- Communicate project status and progress to other departments and manufacturing locations.
Equipment Engineering & Troubleshooting
- Coordinate equipment modifications, including scheduling, parts procurement, production planning, maintenance requests, and troubleshooting.
- Investigate defects and recommend equipment or process modifications.
- Develop and update process controls for new products and product design changes.
- Conduct test runs, equipment adjustments, safety checks, and capability studies.
- Establish preventive maintenance tasks and recommended frequencies.
- Support the Maintenance Department during major equipment downtime events.
- Develop solutions to recurring equipment failures and downtime.
- Provide basic training to new maintenance technicians in PLC troubleshooting and programming.
Project & Budget Management
- Assist with annual departmental capital and expense budgets.
- Conduct equipment utilization studies.
- Prepare and review capital appropriation requests for equipment, tooling, facilities, and facility refurbishments.
- Evaluate equipment costs and negotiate cost reductions with suppliers.
- Track project information, maintain engineering documentation, and report results to appropriate stakeholders.
What We’re Looking ForRequired Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Entry-level through 4 years of relevant experience.
- Knowledge of manufacturing and industrial engineering principles.
- Ability to read component, assembly, and equipment drawings.
- Understanding of industrial equipment and manufacturing processes.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and report technical data.
- Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office and related computer applications.
- Ability to support production across all shifts during new product launches, including flexible hours when needed.
Technical Skills & Knowledge
- Practical knowledge of Toyota Production System concepts and terminology.
- Understanding of cost structures, manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment.
- Knowledge of ergonomic principles, safety procedures, and applicable requirements.
- Basic PLC programming experience with any PLC platform.
- Basic electrical knowledge.
- Basic fabrication understanding.
- Advanced mathematics skills.
- Ability to compile clear, concise visual reports.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with automotive manufacturing, particularly automotive interior components such as seats or door trim.
- Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley or Mitsubishi.
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Fusion 360.
- Experience with MS Project or other project planning tools.
- Japanese language skills.
- Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Location: Athens, Alabama
- Work setting: Combination of office work and an active automotive manufacturing plant environment.
- Plant conditions: Moderate noise levels; personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, and hearing protection may be required.
- Schedule: Must be able to work flexible hours to support production on all shifts during new product launches.
- Travel: Up to 5%.
- Physical demands: Extended periods of walking, sitting, and standing; occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds.
Why Join TBA?
Join a plant engineering team where your technical knowledge and ideas can improve manufacturing performance. You’ll have opportunities to contribute to new product launches, improve equipment reliability, support maintenance, and apply continuous improvement principles to real production challenges.
If you enjoy hands-on engineering, cross-functional problem-solving, and making manufacturing processes work better, this role offers a broad foundation for continued growth in automotive manufacturing.
Apply Today
Ready to improve production processes, solve equipment challenges, and support the next generation of automotive manufacturing? Apply for the Manufacturing Engineer – Automotive Production position in Athens, Alabama.
