Manufacturing Engineer - Plant 10
Howmet Aerospace · Whitehall, MI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 6 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level production role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Whitehall, MI. Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Kaizen, OEE, Root cause, Automation, Casting, Time studies
- Openings
- 2 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $130k–$189k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 30 production engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live production postings in Michigan.
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 60%
- Team leadership 53%
- ✓ Cost reduction 50%
- Six Sigma 40%
- ✓ Casting 30%
- ✓ Automation 30%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Time studies, Plant layout, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Howmet Aerospace
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Nicholas → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall
38 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found in production roles at Howmet Aerospace.
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- Continuous Improvement Leader - Thermatech · Lean / CI · Manager
Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
This position is responsible for developing manufacturing methods to produce parts that consistently meet or exceed our customers’ requirements. Also, continuous improvement of processes by improving methods and developing new methods of manufacturing, leading to increased yields and reduced labor content.
- ◆Conceives, evaluates and implements problem solving activities, cost reduction initiatives and part/process improvement activities.
- ◆External customer escapes - Investigates and analyzes root cause. Develops and implements correction action plans.
- ◆General Technical Support - Collects data and answers customer requests.
- ◆Quotation Prep - Develops material, scrap and labor costs for cost modeling.
- ◆Tooling Development and Build - Attends NPI meeting and provides input based on customer specifications for BOM, routings and milestone plans. Provides manufacturing support fixtures and dies.
- ◆Process Development - Provides manufacturing support for prototypes, instructions and data analysis.
- ◆Equipment Design, Build and Procure - Troubleshoots, validates and qualifies equipment.
- ◆Cell and Standard Work Development - Conducts time studies. Develops cell layout
- ◆Part Number Scrap Reduction and Yield Improvement - Collects data and analysis. Attends QSI meeting
- ◆Floor Coverage and Support - Completes general daily process walk through. Collects data and analysis
- ◆Standard Labor and Process Time Reduction - Analyzes shift labor efficiencies and affectivities. Conducts cost modeling. Implements tooling change
- ◆Deviant Part Review and Disposition - Reviews scrap in all areas
Qualifications
- ✓BS Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution
- ✓Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Preferred qualifications
- ✓BS degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Technology
- ✓Experience in Kaizen, continuous improvement and formal problem solving
- ✓Excellent analytical skills, verbal & written communication skills (such as Standard Operating Procedure development)
- ✓Ability to perform and analyze time studies to develop standardized work and set labor standards
- ✓Ability to create capacity analysis tools that capture machine cycle times, workloads and OEE
- ✓Experience in the implementation of improved manufacturing processes, such as new and better equipment (including defining scope of work, technology research, quote procurement from vendors, budget setting, equipment installation and start-up, project management of improvement projects)
- ✓Experience in defining and implementing cell layout, plant layout and ergonomically designed workstations
- ✓Experience in export control regulations (commercial and/or military shipments across international borders)
- ✓Utilization of observation skills to drive NVA (Non-Value Add) waste elimination, reduced operation cycle times and product flow analysis
- ✓Ability to provide technical leadership and guidance to the manufacturing areas through the use of cross-functional teams
- ✓Ability to read and interpret blueprints
- ✓Experience with CAD (2D and/or 3D)
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
This position will be located in Plant 10, Whitehall Casting Operation, and will support manufacturing by providing focused projects that will improve throughput, reduce inventory & reduce operating expense. This position will drive reduction of labor costs through cellular manufacturing and new/improved methods & equipment. Must be able to apply standard practices and techniques, adjust and correlate data, recognize discrepancies in results and take corrective action. Will document work, prepare technical notes/reports/documents, and establish customer contacts (internal & external) as required.
Job Roles
- •Systems thinker --sees the business and its operation holistically; understands actions and reactions; considers multiple pathways of potential effect before decisions; thinks strategically about interventions with an eye toward scale
- •Optimizer --constantly challenging the organization to work smarter; supports others to ensure they have what they need to do their work successfully
- •Anticipation --looks ahead to minimize potential issues and maximize advantages; prepares others for what comes next
- •Operational accelerator --drives continuous improvement; understands ramifications of automation and other advances; advocates for safety, ergonomics and scalable solutions
- •Organization and structure --works within existing structures while striving to improve and standardize them; provides accurate information; galvanizes others toward common goals
- •Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders
- •Data informed --focused on things that drive quantifiable business outcomes; evaluates based on quantitative feedback; knows and explains the “why” behind actions
- •Prioritized reaction --handles the unexpected without losing sight of important objectives; reacts where greatest leverage points exist
- •Relationship --connects individually and with teams across shifts and practices; builds rapport and commonality; creates a “win together” ethic; serves as liaison between shop floor and engineering; keeps the pulse of the floor; helps people feel heard