Process Engineer at Thread-Craft in Sterling Heights, MI

As a Process Engineer at Thread-Craft, you will help turn customer requirements and engineering drawings into practical, repeatable manufacturing processes. You will work closely with engineering, production, quality, sales, and leadership to determine how precision components can be manufactured efficiently and accurately.

You will support the development and improvement of manufacturing processes for precision linear motion components, including ball screws, ball nuts, lead screws, and other related products used in industrial, aerospace, defense, and other demanding applications.

You do not need to have previous experience with Thread-Craft’s specific products or industry. Product knowledge and our specialized manufacturing processes can be taught. We are looking for someone with a strong manufacturing foundation who is willing to learn, takes initiative, adapts to technology, and is willing to put in the work to understand how our products are made.

What you will accomplish

• Review customer prints, engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, notes, and supporting documentation to determine completeness, clarity, and manufacturability.
• Identify missing, unclear, or conflicting requirements and work with internal teams to resolve questions before releasing work to production.
• Evaluate part designs and customer requirements for manufacturability across manufacturing processes such as milling, turning, grinding, thread grinding, mill-turn machining, and related operations.
• Develop manufacturing processes and routings that define how parts will be produced, inspected, and moved through production.
• Create and maintain part numbers, items, routings, and related engineering information within the ERP system.
• Create clear process instructions, work instructions, manufacturing drawings, and supporting documentation that help production consistently manufacture quality products.
• Develop 3D models for ball nuts and other manufactured components as required.
• Create and revise 2D CAD drawings, process drawings, manufacturing drawings, and other technical documentation for production use.
• Provide technical support to engineering, production, quality, sales, and leadership on new jobs, repeat jobs, repairs, and process improvements.
• Work directly with machinists, CNC programmers, supervisors, quality personnel, and other production team members to understand manufacturing challenges and develop practical solutions.
• Learn and incorporate outside processing requirements such as heat treatment, plating, coating, passivation, and other supplier-performed operations into manufacturing plans.
• Support continuous improvement projects focused on manufacturability, process control, standardization, quality, lead time, throughput, and production efficiency.
• Review existing processes and identify opportunities to improve manufacturing methods, documentation, consistency, and efficiency.
• Take ownership of assigned projects and follow them from initial review through production release and implementation.
• Adapt to new technology, software, equipment, processes, and systems as Thread-Craft continues to grow.
• Perform other engineering and manufacturing-related duties as assigned.

What you will achieve

• You will help create manufacturing processes that allow our production team to consistently produce quality precision components while meeting customer requirements.
• You will achieve this by understanding what the customer is asking for, identifying potential manufacturing challenges, developing practical processes, creating clear documentation, and working directly with the people responsible for producing the parts.
• Your work will help improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, consistency, lead time, and overall production performance.

What we are looking for

• We are looking for a Process Engineer who enjoys manufacturing, problem solving, and learning how complex precision components are made.
• The ideal candidate does not need to know the ball screw or linear motion industry when they walk through the door. We can teach our products, processes, and industry-specific knowledge. What we need is someone who has a strong manufacturing foundation, asks questions, takes initiative, and is willing to put in the work to learn.
• Successful candidates will demonstrate:
• Manufacturing experience in a machining, precision manufacturing, or similar environment.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes such as milling, turning, grinding, thread grinding, mill-turn machining, CNC machining, or related operations.
• Ability to read and interpret customer prints, engineering drawings, tolerances, notes, and specifications
• Ability to evaluate drawings and part designs for manufacturability.
• 3D modeling experience.
• 2D CAD drafting experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of how parts are manufactured.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to create clear and organized technical documentation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, production, quality, sales, and leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and take ownership of assigned projects.
• Willingness to learn new products, manufacturing processes, technology, software, and ERP systems.
• Strong initiative and a willingness to identify problems and help develop solutions rather than waiting to be told what to do.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and new technology.
• Dependable work ethic and willingness to put in the effort required to learn a specialized manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Siemens NX.
• Experience with AutoCAD.
• Experience creating manufacturing routings, process drawings, work instructions, or production documentation.
• Experience with ERP systems, including item creation, routings, bills of material, or manufacturing master data.
• Experience with precision machining or manufacturing.
• Experience with ball screws, ball nuts, lead screws, thread grinding, or similar precision components.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly controlled manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of outside processing such as heat treatment, plating, coating, passivation, or similar supplier-performed operations.
• Experience working directly with machinists, CNC programmers, inspectors, and production supervisors.

Why Thread-Craft

Thread-Craft manufactures precision components used in industrial, aerospace, defense, and other demanding applications. Our products are part of equipment and systems where precision, quality, and reliability matter.

This is an opportunity to build your knowledge of a specialized manufacturing industry while working directly with experienced machinists, engineers, quality personnel, and production leaders.

You will have the opportunity to take ownership of projects, solve real manufacturing problems, learn new technology and processes, and contribute to continuous improvement.

We are looking for someone who wants to grow with the company and build a long-term career in manufacturing engineering. If you are willing to learn, willing to put in the work, take initiative, and want to understand not just what we make but how and why we make it, this could be a strong opportunity for you.