Manufacturing Engineer I
Protolabs · Brooklyn Park, MN
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 12 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Protolabs (industrial) in Brooklyn Park, MN. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement cost-effective manufacturing solutions, troubleshoot production challenges, analyze data, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Root cause, FMEA, Machining
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $93k–$149k.
Median of the low and high ends of 32 live postings that list pay, out of 61 manufacturing engineer openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Minnesota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 60 other live manufacturing postings in Minnesota.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (1+ vs 5+)
Typical $92k–$136k, from 30 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 51%
- ✓ Lean 48%
- ✓ Root cause 34%
- Team leadership 31%
- New product launch 31%
- ✓ Machining 26%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Injection molding, 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 Manufacturing team at Protolabs
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders. 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 Greg → (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?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- 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: Protolabs in Brooklyn Park
4 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in manufacturing roles at Protolabs.
- Shift Supervisor - FLEX · Manufacturing · Supervisor
- Engineering Technician I · Manufacturing
- Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Machining) · Manufacturing · Senior
Full description from ProtolabsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You Will Do
Be a member of cross-disciplinary teams developing and improvising manufacturing processes. Identify opportunities for cost saving or expanded capabilities using data analysis, brainstorming, and other techniques. Help develop competing concepts and apply analytical techniques to support decision processes. Design and develop tooling strategies for new processes.
Assist in research, design and development of manufacturing processes including production flow, assembly methods and production equipment.
Troubleshoot production problems as needed. Identify manufacturing bottlenecks and quality issues. Identify potential design improvements and alternatives.
Assist management in improving a system of production control, standard operating procedures, safety, quality control and training.
Participate in and promote lean manufacturing initiatives.
Work closely with quality engineering to facilitate process and quality improvements.
Perform root cause analysis of situations and implement corrective actions.
Comprehend and leverage statistical data with assistance .
Conduct lean activities with guidance (e.g. kaizen events, 5S events).
Design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data.
0-1 year of relevant professional engineering experience
Strong written and oral communication skills: able to communicate complex technical information to all levels of the organization, able to clearly present data in written and verbal form
Strong problem solving and analytical skills; familiarity of problem solving tools and resources (FMEA, Pareto, Cause & Effect diagrams)
Strong attention to detail and experience with managing project documents and producing quality content.
Must be able to take initiative and work independently
Self-motivated and self-directed with high sense of urgency
Able to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented work environment
Strong time management skills with the ability to successfully perform within a project framework including defined deliverables and time frames
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Be yourself at Protolabs
Why Protolabs?
We are the leaders in digital manufacturing. We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds. We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do. It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.
Join our team as a
Manufacturing Engineer I!
Join our team as a Manufacturing Engineer I and play a key role in optimizing manufacturing processes, improving product quality, and driving operational efficiency. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement cost-effective manufacturing solutions, troubleshoot production challenges, analyze data, and support continuous improvement initiatives. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to process development, lean manufacturing activities, quality enhancements, and innovative tooling and production strategies while building a strong foundation in manufacturing engineering.
What You Bring
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related technical field
What Sets You Apart
- •Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing techniques
Knowledge of CAD software, machining and molding technology
A background or working knowledge of machining and/or injection molding preferred
What's In It For You
- •We offer a competitive salary and total rewards package
- •We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
- •Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
- •Flexible Spending Accounts
- •Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
- •Dental and Vision
- •Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
- •Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- •Paid caregiver leave
- •You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours
- •401k with company match and immediate vest
- •Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate
- •Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
- •And More!