How to Find a Manufacturing Engineer Job and What to Know Before Applying

If you are in the market for a full-time entry-level manufacturing engineer job, the time is ripe to start sending in applications. Even before the countless changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, a recognized shortage of skilled labor was deepening. The digital revolution has ushered in a new kind of need in this industry. Manufacturing processes and methods are becoming increasingly impacted by automation and the workforce is tasked with keeping up with those changes.

Manufacturing engineering, as well as mechanical engineering, can offer a rewarding and well-paid career path in a vast array of potential product fields. This article will outline ways to go about looking for a full-time entry-level manufacturing engineer job. It will also detail a few key elements about the job and its staffing requirements that you should be aware of prior to applying.

Manufacturing engineering largely involves the creation of quality new products. These products can be incredibly wide-ranging, from handmade boats all the way to factory-made jeans.

The main job functions associated with an entry-level manufacturing engineer job focus on a worker’s ability to learn, apply, and eventually design under the methods and processes associated with whatever their company is manufacturing. For instance, if the product is handmade boats, an entry-level worker might start learning to sand and plane wood. That worker could then move up through the ranks as their skills grew, learning facets of difficult woodworking and, eventually, design.

Of paramount importance to manufacturing engineer jobs as well as mechanical engineer jobs is the ability to get the job done at a competitive cost. For this reason, efficiency and attention to detail will be mandatory traits for success in this field. As global technologies have evolved to a place of digital sophistication that has never been seen, the demand for skilled workers who can use computers and other mechanized programs to complete this work has greatly magnified.

As the manufacturing sector provides nearly all of the goods and services utilized by every other sector and consumer, this is a career field in which any worker can enjoy longevity and diversity.

Educational work experience and background requirements will vary depending on the type of entry-level manufacturing engineer job you are seeking. Many manufacturing companies offer internal training schools and services that take everyone from recent high school graduates to mature workers looking for a career change. Entry-level positions typically require a high school diploma and some form of hands-on certification in the skills required for the job.

Although many jobs in the manufacturing environment are transferred using word of mouth and simple proof of on-the-job skills, having a certification never hurts. Entry-level manufacturing engineering jobs can be approached with a variety of independent professional certifications, including:

• Certified Production Technician (CPT). If you can show a mastery of core concepts governing manufacturing production via a series of written and practical assessments, your CPT certification can aid you in finding your next job in this field.
• Certified Manufacturing Engineering (CMfgE). If you have at least eight years of experience in the field of manufacturing engineering, this four-hour exam on general manufacturing-related knowledge can set you apart from the crowd when seeking a new job in this industry.

Materials engineering is another byroad of manufacturing engineering that may be of interest to those more inclined to study processes and work in the fundamental materials governing what gets built and how it comes to fruition.

You can obtain an entry-level part-time or full-time manufacturing engineering job in a number of ways. As many of these roles are based around knowledge of a particular set of systems, processes, or unique skills, often these jobs are offered to applicants with direct connections to hiring companies. The following list contains a few of the easiest ways to establish those needed connections.

Most bachelor’s degree programs in manufacturing engineering structure in one or more internships as part of the core educational process. If you do not have a degree, you can still apply for apprenticeships directly through the companies you wish to work for or their specific journeyman-level mentors. Make a point to reach out to local technical schools or certification programs that offer manufacturing engineering training. Becoming known to teachers and students at these types of institutions will put you on their radar when word-of-mouth jobs arise.

Are you already employed or affiliated with a major company that has arms in manufacturing engineering? If so, find out if there are internal training programs available for candidates like yourself who would like to make a move. Most of the larger companies in the field offer classes and training courses for willing employees. Others may have programs in place to pay for outside training for their engineering teams interested in making lateral moves.

Check out local colleges and universities to find out if their continuing education sector contains courses in manufacturing engineering or relevant connective fields to improve your knowledge in MS Excel or Word, communication skills, product design, project management, and more. The contacts you would make in such a course would be as valuable to your job search as the skills you would gain.

Another way to approach entry-level manufacturing engineering jobs is via areas of critical need. As stated, the entire field of manufacturing has labored under a skills shortage for years. Identifying areas where massive or quick growth has taken place helps you narrow your search to the places most in need of your skills. Fields that are currently experiencing rapid growth in entry-level manufacturing engineering jobs include:

• Electric vehicle technology. Visit the websites and social media pages of car manufacturers that advertise electric capacity. Many are advertising both internally and externally for skilled workers who can advance this kind of mechanization.
• 3D-printing technology. Everyone from NASA to local artisans are actively exploring the possibilities of 3D-printing technology, so reaching out to particular companies or fields of interest is advisable. Courses in 3D-printing technology are likewise becoming more commonplace in adult education curriculums across campuses nationwide.
• Avionics and information technology. As aerospace remains poised to become the next Silicon Valley in terms of surges in job interest and availability, looking into the major players in your local area is a great place to find entry-level manufacturing engineering jobs. This vast area of the manufacturing field can have you working in several areas, from airplane parts to government agencies, and for companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, or Textron.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides state-by-state visuals depicting the geographic primary locations most likely to have a high number of manufacturing engineering jobs. The good news is that of all types of engineering jobs available, manufacturing engineers have been and continue to be the most in demand.

With median annual wages at $91,010 and so many varied options for day-to-day tasks, this field represents a career path with almost limitless potential for interested U.S. citizens or aliens with the proper work authorizations.

Searching job postings online for your next entry-level manufacturing engineering job represents the fastest way to see what is available. However, knowing how to search for job titles is every bit as important as knowing where.

You don’t want a feed full of job types that are not right for you or to land a job with a company that is not committed to providing equal opportunity employment. Companies that comply with the US EEO (The United States Equal Employment Opportunity) Commission, do not discriminate against potential employees by any characteristic protected by law, such as gender identity, national origin, veteran status, mental disability, sexual orientation, and more.

Using a data-based, personalized platform like Joblist helps you sift out the positions that actually apply to your needs and follow federal regulations.

The noted ongoing skills gap in the field of manufacturing engineering means that your odds of finding a secure job in this area are high when you know where and how to look. Knowing your options and obstacles is the first step toward locating a fulfilling career in this type of work.

Let Joblist help you with the next step via our personalized job search tool, which will only present you with manufacturing engineering positions and job descriptions that suit your needs. Filling out a few basic details about the jobs you are interested in and the places you would like to work puts you on the road to one day becoming a senior manufacturing engineer.