Manufacturing Engineer - Polyurethane Molding (MEPOL)

Role details

BIRNS is an AS9100-certified company and a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance underwater lighting and subsea interconnect systems. Our products support critical applications in the marine, military, and nuclear power generation industries, where quality, reliability, and performance are essential.

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Manufacturing Engineer specializing in Polyurethane Molding to develop, optimize, document, and continuously improve our polyurethane molding and related manufacturing processes.

This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong engineer who enjoys working directly with production teams, solving complex manufacturing challenges, improving process consistency, and driving high standards of quality and efficiency.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for developing, implementing, validating, and optimizing polyurethane molding processes to ensure safe, efficient, repeatable, and cost-effective manufacturing. The role will focus on process control, tooling, material processing, production documentation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Working closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain, the Manufacturing Engineer will help ensure products meet stringent quality requirements while supporting on-time delivery and operational excellence in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, optimize, and validate polyurethane molding processes, including temperature-controlled molding and curing operations.
• Troubleshoot molding and material-processing issues, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Establish and maintain robust, repeatable manufacturing processes that meet product specifications and quality requirements.
• Develop, document, and maintain detailed work instructions, standard operating procedures, process specifications, and manufacturing standards.
• Support tooling and mold design, fixture development, and process automation initiatives to improve manufacturing capability and consistency.
• Support potting, encapsulation, bonding, and other related manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with Quality and Production to investigate nonconformances, reduce defects, and improve process capability.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Statistical Process Control (SPC), root cause analysis, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Analyze manufacturing performance, identify opportunities to reduce scrap and rework, improve productivity, and control manufacturing costs.
• Support process validation, documentation, operator training, and implementation of manufacturing process changes.
• Ensure manufacturing methods comply with applicable quality system requirements, safety practices, and environmental controls.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to resolve manufacturing issues and achieve production objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education, technical training, and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of related manufacturing engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of education and applicable experience.
• Experience with temperature-controlled molding and curing processes involving elastomeric materials such as polyurethane (PUR), chloroprene rubber (CR), and/or thermoplastic rubber (TPR).
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Experience developing manufacturing documentation, work instructions, process specifications, and standardized production methods.
• Ability to work hands-on in a manufacturing environment and collaborate effectively with production personnel and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with polyurethane molding processes, particularly two-part polyurethane or elastomeric molding systems.
• Experience with potting, encapsulation, and bonding processes utilizing MIL-M-24041 compounds.
• Experience bonding to polyethylene (PE), TFE, and/or PTFE materials.
• Familiarity with PRO-020 MLDG processes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Statistical Process Control (SPC), root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Experience with mold and tooling design, fixture development, and manufacturing automation support.
• Experience developing process validation protocols, tooling specifications, and operator training materials.
• Additional certifications or training in Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, process engineering, or related disciplines.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will help BIRNS achieve:

• Consistent, repeatable polyurethane molding processes.
• Improved product quality and reduced defects, scrap, and rework.
• More efficient manufacturing operations and improved process capability.
• Clear, controlled, and standardized manufacturing documentation.
• Effective collaboration between Engineering, Quality, and Production.
• Continuous improvement in manufacturing performance, cost, and delivery.

Why Join BIRNS?

At BIRNS, you will contribute directly to the manufacturing of high-performance products used in demanding marine, military, and nuclear power generation applications. You will have the opportunity to apply your technical expertise, solve challenging process engineering problems, and make a meaningful impact on product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and operational performance.

Our work is guided by four core values: Focus on the Customer, Do the Right Thing, Treat People Right, and Continually Improve.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Will you now or in the future require sponsorship?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Manufacturing Engineering: 10 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Oxnard, CA 93033 (Required)

Work Location: In person