Operations/Assembly Process Engineer

Are you inspired by challenging the status quo? Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results? If so, Gates could be for you.

Gates is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We push the boundaries of material science to engineer solutions that continually exceed customer expectations.

Let's simplify it, think belts and hoses. Found in motorcycles, conveyor belts, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, & 3D printers just to name a few. Because why not do it all?

Position Summary

As an innovation leader, we look for ambitious, forward-thinking, open-minded, and well-rounded individuals to join our global team.

The Operations Assembly Process Engineer Data Center is responsible for developing, implementing, optimizing, and sustaining manufacturing and assembly processes supporting Gates' Data Center product portfolio and integrated solutions.

This position will serve as a key technical resource for Data Center assembly operations, with responsibility for ensuring manufacturing processes are safe, scalable, repeatable, and capable of meeting demanding quality, delivery, cost, and customer requirements. The engineer will partner closely with Operations, Product Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Product Line Management, and other cross-functional teams to successfully industrialize and scale Data Center products and assemblies.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, document, and continuously improve manufacturing and assembly processes for Data Center products and integrated solutions, ensuring alignment with safety, quality, delivery, cost, and customer requirements.
• Serve as the primary manufacturing/process engineering resource supporting Data Center assembly operations, providing hands-on technical support to production teams.
• Develop scalable manufacturing and assembly processes to support new and rapidly growing Data Center product lines, from prototype and initial production through full-scale manufacturing.
• Support the industrialization and launch of new Data Center products through Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA), process development, production trials, validation, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Develop process flows, assembly sequences, standardized work, SOPs, work instructions, process parameters, Control Plans, and other manufacturing documentation.
• Design and optimize assembly workstations, manufacturing cells, equipment layouts, and material flow to improve safety, ergonomics, productivity, quality, and production scalability.
• Develop, specify, evaluate, and implement assembly tooling, fixtures, gauges, test equipment, error-proofing devices, and automation required to manufacture Data Center products.
• Conduct cycle-time studies, line balancing, bottleneck analysis, capacity modeling, and labor analysis to ensure Data Center manufacturing capabilities align with current and forecasted demand.
• Identify and address manufacturing constraints that could impact the ability to scale production or meet customer delivery requirements.
• Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective actions for assembly, manufacturing, quality, equipment, and process-related issues.
• Support prototype, pilot, pre-production, and production builds for new Data Center products, documenting lessons learned and implementing improvements prior to production scale-up.
• Analyze production and operational data to identify trends, process variation, manufacturing losses, bottlenecks, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Work directly with operators and production leadership to ensure manufacturing improvements are practical, sustainable, and effectively adopted.
• Develop and deliver training for operators and manufacturing personnel on new or revised assembly processes, equipment, tooling, and standardized work.
• Support the transfer and replication of manufacturing processes between Gates facilities and production partners, as required, to support Data Center business growth.
• Support customer-driven changes, engineering changes, and product modifications by evaluating manufacturing impacts and implementing necessary process updates.
  
  

Keys to Success

• Hands-on manufacturing and assembly engineering capabilities.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and structured problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth Data Center business environment.
• Ability to take processes from concept and prototype through production scale-up.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Management, and commercial teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Data-driven approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Strong internal and external customer focus.
• Creativity, initiative, adaptability, and teamwork.
• High attention to detail and commitment to safety and quality.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None
• Acts as a resource for other team members; may lead projects with limited risks and resource requirements
  
  

Required Qualifications

Requirements and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, assembly engineering, operations engineering, or a related manufacturing role.
• Hands-on experience supporting manufacturing or assembly operations.
• Experience developing and improving assembly processes, standardized work, work instructions, and manufacturing documentation.
• Demonstrated experience with process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience analyzing cycle times, manufacturing capacity, process constraints, and labor requirements.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use manufacturing and operational data to drive decisions.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Data Center, thermal management, liquid cooling, fluid conveyance, hose, coupling, manifold, or complex mechanical assembly products.
• Experience establishing manufacturing processes for new products from prototype through production.
• Knowledge of DFMA, PFMEA, Control Plans, process validation, capability studies, and error-proofing methodologies.
• Experience with hose, coupling, fitting, fluid conveyance, or fluid-management assembly processes.
• Experience with pressure/leak testing, dimensional inspection, torque-controlled assembly, or other manufacturing verification processes.
• Experience designing or implementing assembly tooling, fixtures, gauges, workstations, test equipment, and automation.
• Experience with capital equipment justification, specification, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing scale-up.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement training or certification preferred.
  
  

WHY GATES?

Founded in 1911 in Denver, Colorado, Gates is publicly traded on the NYSE. While we might operate in a vast amount of time zones we operate as 'One Gates' and have a common goal of pushing the boundaries of materials science. We invest in our people, bringing real-world experience that enables us to solve our customers' diverse challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Gates is an Equal Opportunity and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other consideration defined by law.