Manufacturing Engineer

Description :

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Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 700+ passionate team members. We work in person 4+ days a week.

What You’ll Do :

The Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in optimizing operations, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring the highest standards of product quality. This role involves leading projects and collaborating across teams to drive initiatives forward, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Participates directly with assembly teams to study and improve current assembly and material flow processes

Implements optimal assembly and material flow strategies based on current and projected volumes, budget constraints, and workforce availability

Supports lean initiatives by reducing labor hours and material waste through process optimization and automation

Works with Design Engineering to transition products from design to full-scale production

Develops and refines manufacturing and assembly processes, including creation of manufacturing bills of materials and labor cost estimates

Designs or assists in the design of fixtures and tooling to support production efficiency and ergonomic

Implements quality-enhancing processes including Poka-yoke, Design for Assembly (DFA), and In-Process Testing

Partners with Quality Engineering to proactively identify and resolve product quality issues

Rapidly addresses customer or engineering-identified quality problems and develops actionable solutions

Supports incoming inspection processes by developing standards and working closely with suppliers to ensure compliance

Will perform additional responsibilities when required

Requirements : What You’ll Bring :

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field

2–5+ years of relevant experience in a manufacturing or assembly environment

Strong mechanical aptitude and familiarity with hands-on troubleshooting and implementation

High level of analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills with a track record of building productive relationships and resolving issues collaboratively

Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple projects and assignments with a moderate level of autonomy while maintaining high accountability for results

Works under the guidance of the Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager to ensure alignment with departmental goals and project objectives

Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information

Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions

A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues

Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)

Not Required but Nice to Have!

Experience with consumer products and plastic injection molding operations and principles

Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicle technology, and PLC’s

Experience with 3D CAD systems and rapid prototyping systems and processes

Benefits & Purrks :

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with :

Premium Medical / Dental / Vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Whisker Parents Program

1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption

Pet Insurance Discount

401K match

Flexible spending accounts

Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Generous paid time off

14 Paid Holidays

Top of the line equipment

Pet-friendly office

Whisker products and swag

Continuing education Support

On-site gym with Peloton

Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity :

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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