Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Bucher Hydraulics Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Bucher Hydraulics in Grand Rapids, Michigan Posted in about 4 hours ago.

Type:

full-time

Job Description:

Bucher Hydraulics is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with deep capital project experience to lead equipment procurement, automation integration, and production system development across three manufacturing facilities in Michigan and Illinois. This is a hands-on program leadership role for someone who can own a project from concept through commissioning -- writing RFPs, managing vendors and integrators, and driving execution without requiring close supervision. The right candidate brings experience specifying and procuring CNC machining equipment, honing systems, assembly equipment, and functional test systems, with the ability to manage skilled automation integrators and custom test equipment developers. This role is critical to BH-NA's capital investment roadmap and production capability expansion in 2026 and beyond. Key Responsibilities Capital Equipment Programs

• Lead the specification, procurement, and commissioning of production equipment including CNC horizontal machining centers, honing equipment, assembly systems, and test equipment across all BH-NA facilities.
• Develop and write RFPs for capital equipment and automation projects; evaluate vendor proposals, manage selection, and drive contracts through to execution.
• Build and manage capital project timelines, budgets, and milestone tracking from approval through runoff and handoff to production.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses to support capital appropriation requests. Test Equipment Development
• Define functional test requirements for hydraulic products including valves, power units, and manifolds; translate requirements into detailed specifications for external integrators.
• Manage skilled test equipment integrators through design, build, installation, and acceptance -- serving as the primary technical owner on the BH-NA side.
• Ensure test systems are validated, documented, and maintainable before handoff to the production floor. Automation Integration
• Identify and develop automation opportunities across BH-NA facilities -- robotic cells, automated assembly, CNC cell automation, and vision systems.
• Manage automation integrators and project execution from concept through commissioning.
• Partner with plant operations to ensure automation solutions are practical, maintainable, and designed for the production environment. Production System Support
• Support new product introduction at each facility by defining equipment and tooling requirements, leading APQP participation from the engineering side, and ensuring production readiness before launch.
• Quote manufacturing costs for machining, assembly, and test on new and prototype parts; provide engineering input on feasibility and cycle time.
• Coordinate with plant engineering and maintenance teams to ensure equipment is properly documented and supportable from day one of operation. Multi-Site Execution
• Work across Grand Rapids, Newaygo, and Elgin facilities -- this role requires regular travel and the ability to manage projects simultaneously across multiple sites.
• Build strong working relationships with Plant Managers and production teams at each facility to align capital and technology priorities with site operational needs. Qualifications Required
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent technical experience.
• 7 or more years of manufacturing engineering experience with demonstrated ownership of capital equipment projects from specification through commissioning.
• Experience specifying and procuring CNC machining equipment, precision manufacturing systems, or industrial automation.
• Demonstrated ability to write RFPs, evaluate vendor proposals, and manage external integrators and equipment builders.
• Strong project management skills -- ability to run multiple capital programs simultaneously across sites.
• Business case and ROI development experience for capital appropriation. Preferred
• Experience with hydraulic or fluid power products and functional test system development.
• Background in automation integration -- robotic assembly, CNC cell automation, or vision systems.
• Familiarity with APQP and new product introduction processes in a precision manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in a multi-site manufacturing organization. What We Offer
• A direct impact role on a significant capital investment roadmap with real program ownership from day one.
• Multi-site scope across three established manufacturing facilities.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and a team that values engineering excellence