About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Powertrain & engine manufacturing (industrial/manufacturing).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role overview

Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Product Engineer to join a production-focused engineering team in Dortches, NC. This hands-on role connects Product Engineering with Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Materials, and Product Support to resolve immediate production issues, lead short-term recovery actions, and support longer-term design improvements that protect production schedules and product quality.

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What you’ll do

• Lead structured, short-term technical solutions on the production floor to preserve engine build schedules and product quality.
• Investigate machining non-conformances, supplier quality misses, and customer escalations; represent Product Engineering during cross-functional reviews and crisis response.
• Drive and document corrective actions; initiate longer-term design improvements where needed.
• Support Product Preceding Technology (PPT), Value Package Introduction (VPI), and Current Product Support (CPS) processes.
• Apply Engineering Standard Work, iDFMEA, FIRG inputs, 7-step problem solving, and design review checklists to make fact-based technical decisions.
• Create and maintain solid models, engineering BOMs, and drawings; perform component and subsystem validation work as required.
• Work with technicians, manufacturing teams, and suppliers to implement containment and recovery actions to prevent production disruption.
• Use data from multiple software systems for analysis; prototyping and hands-on mechanical troubleshooting are part of the daily work.

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Key responsibilities

• Lead structured problem resolution from root-cause analysis through implementation and verification.
• Execute and improve standard product support and product introduction processes.
• Translate stakeholder and value-package requirements into robust virtual/mechanical designs and documentation.
• Make quality-driven decisions on analysis approach, test work instructions, and cross-functional coordination.
• Own technical scope for moderately complex components and assemblies and escalate appropriately.
• Mentor or coordinate technicians or student employees as needed to support production response.

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Minimum qualifications & skills

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Engineering or another relevant STEM field required.
• Strong CAD / 3D modeling skills (solid modeling and engineering drawings).
• Formal problem-solving training or demonstrated application of structured troubleshooting methods.
• Fundamental mechanical design knowledge and hands-on mechanical aptitude (professional or hobby experience).
• Ability to apply basic statistical and data-driven methods (descriptive statistics, regression, DOE, ANOVA) to support engineering judgment.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative manufacturing environment and interacting with multiple stakeholders and supplier partners.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation and cross-functional alignment.
• Software/programming aptitude is a plus (for data acquisition and analysis from multiple tools).

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Education & experience

• Entry level / Early career (designed for candidates within ~2 years of completing their highest degree).
• Preferred: mechanical engineering program background (ME) or related coursework.
• Post-graduate (Master’s) may be required for select roles.
• International students (F-1) must have CPT/OPT authorization relating to their degree before starting.

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Location & work arrangement

• Job location: Dortches, NC (on-site with flexibility). This position requires regular on-site presence to support production activities.
• Relocation assistance: Yes (per client policy).
• Employment type: Full-time, Exempt — Entry Level.

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Compensation

• Base salary range: $67,200 — $100,800 per year (provided by the client).
• Additional benefits and exact compensation details will be shared by the hiring organization during the process.

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Additional hiring notes

• This role may require export-control or sanctions-related licensing/compliance checks.
• Our client participates in employment eligibility verification where required and will verify right-to-work documentation consistent with federal law.
• Candidates should be legally authorized to work in the United States or able to provide required documentation. For international students, CPT/OPT must be authorized prior to starting.

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Why apply

This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career engineer who enjoys hands-on, impact-driven work in engine and powertrain manufacturing. You’ll gain broad exposure to product support, supplier interaction, and manufacturing problem solving while building CAD and design-validation experience.

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