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Manufacturing Engineer

Woodward · Spartanburg, SC

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Level
Engineer
Team
Manufacturing
Degree
Required
Experience asked
4+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
Yesterday

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at Woodward (aerospace & defense) in Spartanburg, SC. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Solve complex production challenges by applying advanced problem-solving methods, such as DOE or Six Sigma tools.

They ask for
4+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Value stream mapping, Root cause, FMEA, APQP
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in South Carolina: typical posted base $90k–$123k.

Median of the low and high ends of 10 live postings that list pay, out of 47 manufacturing engineer openings in South Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

South Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 46 other live manufacturing postings in South Carolina.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $90k–$123k, from 10 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Lean 49%
  • ✓ Tooling 45%
  • New product launch 30%
  • ✓ Root cause 28%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 21%
  • Welding 21%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for APQP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 4+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Woodward

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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. 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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 WoodwardAs posted on their careers site.Show

Key Responsibilities

  • ◆Production Support: Lead troubleshooting for complex process issues, applying advanced tools to identify root causes and recommend solutions to optimize workflows. Oversee hardware disposition efforts, including root cause analysis of recurring hardware defects and implementation of corrective actions.
  • ◆Manufacturing Process Ownership: Lead efforts to create, standardize, and maintain manufacturing processes for assigned areas. Monitor process metrics and implement changes to ensure reliability and alignment with production goals.
  • ◆Process Capability and Improvement: Lead process improvement initiatives, applying techniques like Six Sigma, DOE, FMEA, and/or simulation tools to improve capability and reduce variation.
  • ◆Production Documentation Management: Lead efforts to standardize and improve documentation across assigned processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and accessibility for operators and engineers. Implement digital documentation systems to streamline updates and enable real-time collaboration.
  • ◆Project Support and Leadership: Lead medium-sized manufacturing projects, including risk assessments, process improvements, and resource coordination.
Show full description ↓

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Sr Manufacturing Engineer (Level III) - PREFERRED CANDIDATE IDENTIFIED

  • •Estimated annual base pay: $95,000.00(minimum) - $124,000.00(midpoint) - $152,000.00(maximum)
  • •All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
  • •401(k) match (4.5%)
  • •Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
  • •Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
  • •12 paid holidays.
  • •Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
  • •Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
  • •Paid parental leave.
  • •Adoption Assistance
  • •Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
  • •Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life Member referral bonus
  • •Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
  • •Voluntary benefits, including:

o Home / Auto Insurance discounts

o Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Key Skills

  • •Productivity Improvements: Leads medium-sized process improvement projects, focusing on streamlining operations, reducing waste, and improving overall process reliability. Applies tools such as process mapping and root cause analysis to drive measurable improvements.
  • •Data Analysis: Use data to drive process improvements by identifying root causes of issues and recommending actionable changes to enhance efficiency.
  • •Conducting Cost Analysis and Optimization: Develop cost models to identify high-cost operations, compare alternatives, inventory analysis, and recommend process improvements to reduce waste, and optimize asset utilization.
  • •Lean Manufacturing: Lead Lean initiatives within a department, addressing inefficiencies and improving flow using advanced techniques.
  • •Design for Manufacturability & Assembly: Lead DFMA evaluations for medium-complexity products, identifying opportunities to simplify designs, reduce costs, and optimize assembly processes. Recommend design changes that improve manufacturing efficiency and scalability.
  • •Equipment: Specifies equipment, tooling, and gaging for projects while creating detailed RFPs and RFQs. Integrates equipment needs into value stream and/or site capital plans. Leads troubleshooting efforts for recurring equipment problems and coordinates with vendors to implement solutions. Oversees preventive maintenance schedules for critical systems.​​
  • •Mentorship: Provide guidance to entry-level engineers and interns on projects and problem-solving approaches. Offer constructive feedback to help them grow and develop their skills.
  • •Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Solve complex production challenges by applying advanced problem-solving methods, such as DOE or Six Sigma tools.
  • •Knowledge of APQP Tools and Systems: Leads implementation of APQP deliverables for medium-complexity projects, optimizing tooling/fixturing designs and improving process capability. Reviews data to ensure processes meet quality and performance standards.
  • •Communication and Collaboration Skills: Present ideas and recommendations to leadership, facilitating collaboration across departments.

Successful candidates typically have

  • •4 Year Bachelors BS OR 10+ years equivalent experience

Notice: The position for which you are applying will be designated as a DOT safety-sensitive position in the future, as defined in 14 CFR part 120. When this position becomes designated as a DOT safety-sensitive position, you will be required to undergo a DOT/FAA pre-employment drug test for prohibited drugs as defined in 49 CFR § 40.3, including marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines, before performing safety-sensitive duties.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

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