Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

COMPA Industries is searching for qualified candidates for a Manufacturing Engineer position in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Salary: $40–$50 per hour

Location: Oak Ridge, TN — Onsite

Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required

Work Schedule: Full-time; overtime may be required based on production needs

Clearance: DOE Q Clearance required; active Q Clearance highly preferred (ability to obtain)

Employment Type: Full-time / Contract

Start Date: ASAP

Mandatory Experience Requirement – Read Before Applying

Candidates must have:

• A bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 2–5+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment.
• Experience developing, optimizing, and maintaining manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Hands-on experience applying process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or continuous improvement.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance. Active Q Clearance is highly preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship.

Applications lacking these required qualifications may not be considered.

Impact

• Join a mission-focused manufacturing engineering team supporting critical production operations in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• In this role, you will help develop, optimize, and maintain manufacturing processes that support efficient production, high-quality output, safety, and cost-effective operations. Your work will directly support production, quality, supply chain, and design teams by improving manufacturability, reducing waste, troubleshooting production issues, and helping drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.
• This is a strong opportunity for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving production challenges, improving processes, supporting shop floor operations, and working in a high-standard manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Design, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing processes, workflows, and layouts.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Analyze production data to identify inefficiencies, quality issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead or support Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with product design teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and cost-effective.
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support equipment selection, installation, validation, and maintenance activities.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Train production staff on new processes, tools, and process improvements.
• Support new product introductions and process scale-up activities.
• Work closely with production, quality, supply chain, and design teams to improve manufacturing outcomes.
• Communicate clearly with cross-functional teams to resolve manufacturing challenges and support production goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 2–5+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment.
• Experience developing, optimizing, or maintaining manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Proficiency in process improvement methodologies, including Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or continuous improvement.
• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen is desirable but not required if the candidate can demonstrate effective hands-on application through experience.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in a production-focused, schedule-driven environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOE Q Clearance. Active Q Clearance is highly preferred.

Desired Skills

• Experience with CAD software.
• Experience with manufacturing-related systems such as ERP or MES.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher certification.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Nuclear or DOE-regulated manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, medical, food manufacturing, nuclear, DOE, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Project management experience.
• Experience supporting equipment validation, process scale-up, or new product introductions.
• Strong hands-on continuous improvement experience.
• Ability to identify process inefficiencies and recommend practical improvements.
• Ability to work effectively with production, quality, supply chain, and design teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safety and quality.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field required.
• 2–5+ years of manufacturing or production experience required; experience level may vary by role.
• Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies required.
• Certification in Lean or Six Sigma preferred but not required with demonstrated practical experience.
• Nuclear, DOE, aerospace, automotive, medical, food manufacturing, or other regulated industry experience preferred.

Working Conditions

• This position is fully onsite in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• Work is performed in a manufacturing or production floor environment with exposure to noise, machinery, and production equipment. Use of personal protective equipment, or PPE, is required as appropriate.
• This is a full-time position. Overtime may be required based on production needs.

This position is local to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Relocation or per diem support is currently available as needed.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

COMPA Industries supports mission-critical technical, engineering, and manufacturing work through experienced professionals who understand quality, safety, and operational excellence.

This role offers the opportunity to support high-standard manufacturing operations while helping improve production processes, reduce waste, troubleshoot challenges, and strengthen manufacturing performance in a mission-focused environment.

Application Note

Direct applicants only. Candidates must be able to work directly for the employer or staffing partner supporting this position.

U.S. Citizenship is required. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance. Active Q Clearance is highly preferred for initial hires, though highly qualified candidates without an active clearance may also be considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

COMPA Industries is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected status.