Associate Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Kinston, NC

For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers. We are the #1 manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America, and our associates produce the most comprehensive portfolio of superior cabinetry products for the kitchen, bath and other parts of the home. Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for process improvements and process engineering activities at MasterBrand Kinston (Standard Operating Sheets, Production Work Instructions, Poka-yokes, Layout Changes, Process Trainings, Line Balancing, Machine Reliability Studies, and Capital Project Execution). This position involves working in a team environment with safety, maintenance, plant production supervision, and corporate engineering support departments. This position will focus on implementing projects that directly impact machine uptime, equipment reliability, product quality, and labor utilization.

• Analyze manufacturing processes and implement improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, equipment reliability, and cost performance.
• Support equipment reliability initiatives through analysis of downtime trends, failure modes, and process performance metrics.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve uptime, equipment capability, and process stability.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, safety, and engineering teams to resolve equipment and process issues.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs through reliability studies and failure analysis.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Sheets (SOS), Work Instructions, Poka-Yokes, and standardized manufacturing processes.
• Determine manufacturing methods, operating sequences, and equipment requirements for new and existing products.
• Support line balancing, workflow optimization, and manufacturing layout improvements.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste and improve operational performance.
• Lead and participate in Kaizen, 6S, and structured problem‑solving events.
• Support capital projects, including equipment installations, relocations, automation initiatives, and equipment upgrades.
• Develop equipment specifications, project justifications, and ROI analyses for capital improvement opportunities.
• Partner with suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders throughout project planning and implementation.
• Evaluate manufacturing technologies and process improvements that enhance throughput, quality, reliability, and cost performance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Wood Technology, or related field required.
• 3+ years of manufacturing engineering experience required.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Inventor, or SolidWorks and Microsoft Office applications required.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and process improvement methodologies preferred.
• Knowledge of equipment reliability, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
• Experience supporting capital projects, automation, and equipment installations.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and downtime metrics.
• CNC programming experience preferred (IMOS, WoodWOP, and Cut‑Rite) is a plus.

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is an equal opportunity employer. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability/handicap status, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. MasterBrand Cabinets LLC also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also MasterBrand Cabinets LLC’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

MasterBrand Cabinets LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment, please contact us at staffing@masterbrand.com.

MasterBrand® isn’t just a cabinet company – we are an organization of people who are Building Great Experiences Together. For more than 70 years, MasterBrand has been shaping the places where people come together, enriching lives and creating meaningful memories for our customers. We are the #1 manufacturer of residential cabinets in North America, and our associates produce the most comprehensive portfolio of superior cabinetry products for the kitchen, bath and other parts of the home. Building on our history by innovating how we work and what we offer, MasterBrand is proud to be an industry leader. We achieve this through The MasterBrand Way – our business system – which empowers every individual to make the team better, be bold and drive our business forward, and champion improvement in all that we do. Through this unique culture, we strive to create a best place to work where:

• We aim for opportunity, purpose and reward in our associates’ experience all within an organization where our associates can thrive.
• We work hard to create an environment that keeps people safe, values their unique experiences and perspectives, and fosters collaboration and belonging.
• We are committed to supporting the well‑being of our associates and the communities in which we operate.

Come see why our associates love working at MasterBrand.