
Machinist / Engineering Technician
Wabtec · Oak Creek, WI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 7 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Wabtec (industrial) in Oak Creek, WI. 2+ year of experience as an engineering technician, machines, or fabricator.
- They ask for
- 2+ years
- Tools it names
- Lean, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), CNC, Machining, Welding, Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Wisconsin: typical posted base $74k–$118k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 30 manufacturing engineer openings in Wisconsin, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Wisconsin plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live manufacturing postings in Wisconsin.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $74k–$118k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 57%
- ✓ Lean 40%
- ✓ Machining 40%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 40%
- Automation 33%
- Root cause 30%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Welding, 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 Wabtec
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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.
Full description from WabtecAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
to determine test
requirements
- ✓Experience evaluating product failures and the ability to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems.
- ✓Experience with test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, pressure gauges) and data collection tools.
- ✓Ability to define or interpret assembly and manufacturing work instructions and test procedures
- ✓Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings including electrical and hydraulic schematics
- ✓Ability to perform basic engineering calculations
- ✓Strong documentation and organizational skills are required to maintain all records, provide data to project engineers and managers.
- ✓Proficiency with MS-WORD, EXCEL and OUTLOOK is required
- ✓Prior experience working on research & development or prototypes is strongly preferred
- ✓Familiarity with design for railroad products and systems and their environments.
- ✓Experience with electrical control and hydraulic systems.
- ✓Advanced experience with CNC programming and CAD/CAM software.
- ✓Knowledge of Lean manufacturing and design principles is a plus
What will your typical day look like?
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Who will you be working with?
You will be working as part of the Nordco Engineering Team helping bring new technologies to the Roadway Work Equipment industry.
How will you make a difference?
You will play a critical role in fabricating and machining components, preparing test setups, and conducting validation tests to ensure products meet design specifications. This hands-on position requires expertise in machining and fabrication, to build prototype machines, test stands fixturing and tooling. This is coupled with the ability to execute tests, troubleshoot issues, and collaborating with engineers to validate product performance and reliability.
What do we want to know about you?
- •2+ year of experience as an engineering technician, machines, or fabricator.
- •Hands on expertise in CNC plasma cutting, milling and break press, fabrication tasks, and/or test and validation
- •Proficiency with CNC operations, including setup, operation and programming. This includes CAD/CAM software.
- •Extensive hands-on manufacturing experience with mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems that include welding, and assembly
- •Experience evaluating product designs and product performance
Your day will involve
- •Operate and maintain CNC plasma cutting equipment
- •Utlize CNC brake press to forma dn bend parts to exact specifications
- •Program and operate CNC 5-axis mill to create complex high precision components and test fixtures
- •Perform tasks such as welding (TIG, MIG, arc), cutting, grinding, drilling and assembling of components to create prototypes, fixtures or final products.
- •Measure and inspect parts and components using precision tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges) to ensure adherence to tolerances and specifications
- •Maintain prototype equipment so that it is in good working order
- •Troubleshoot and repair hydraulic, electrical or mechanical issues with prototype machinery
- •Conduct performance tests of new products or components, assemblies and systems in accordance with test plans and criteria; maintain accurate records and report results to engineering
- •Install instrumentation and test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications
- •Use data acquisition equipment to gather pressure, temperature, flow and other data types.
- •Coordinate the on time completion of tasks, communicating directly with engineering and other technicians.
- •Provide technical input to development engineers to support the design of new products, utlizting past experience, observations and test results
- •Organize and manage the R&D lab space to insure a safe working environment
What about the physical demands of the job?
- •Travel to customer sites to test products, train customers – up to 20% of time.
- •Requires mechanical aptitude to physically work on machinery.
- •Requires the ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
- •Requires the use of hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, and controls.
- •The employee is required to talk, hear and walk unassisted.
- •Close vision ability is required.
- •Requires the ability to travel to remote worksites.
- •May include exposure to heat, wet, cold, dry working conditions for a period of time
