ECS ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Manufacturing Engineer

About ECS Environmental Solutions

ECS Environmental Solutions is a leading engineer-to-order manufacturer of air pollution control and odor control systems serving industrial and municipal clients across North America. Our product portfolio includes wet scrubbers, carbon adsorbers, biological treatment systems, FRP vessels, and custom ductwork engineered and built in-house at our Belton, Texas facility.

We design systems that solve real problems controlling hazardous emissions, protecting communities, and keeping industrial operations in compliance. Every system we ship is custom-engineered to the application, which means our shop floor team handles a level of complexity and variability that most manufacturers never see. No two jobs are exactly alike.

With over 120 employees and decades of field-proven experience, ECS is in a phase of intentional growth standardizing our processes, elevating our engineering output, and building the operational foundation to scale. This Manufacturing Engineer role is a direct investment in that mission. The person in this seat will have real influence on how we build, what we document, and how our shop floor operates for years to come.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer serves as the critical link between the shop floor and the engineering department. This role is responsible for creating and implementing documented, repeatable manufacturing processes eliminating reliance on tribal knowledge and building a foundation of standardized methods across ECS's FRP fabrication operations. This is a hands-on, highly visible role with direct impact on safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost accuracy.

The ideal candidate brings experience and passion for continuous improvement (Toyota Production System Lean -based) and deep knowledge of FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) and/or Thermoplastics manufacturing vessel construction, laminate schedules, resin systems, and vessel internals combined with the discipline to document, standardize, and improve the processes behind how that work gets done.

Key ResponsibilitiesProcess Standardization & Documentation

• Lead the capture and documentation of tribal knowledge from the shop floor into formal Work Instructions, Manufacturing Procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Develop and maintain manufacturing process documentation including laminate schedules, fabrication sequences, assembly procedures, and inspection criteria for FRP vessels and ductwork.
• Establish standard labor and material norms to support accurate cost estimating and production planning.
• Create and maintain visual work aids (job travelers, layup guides, material callout sheets) that are usable at the point of production.

Engineering–Shop Floor Interface

• Act as the primary technical liaison between the engineering department and the production floor, translating design intent into manufacturable instructions.
• Review engineering drawings, BOMs, and specifications for manufacturability prior to release to the shop. Flag and resolve conflicts before they become field problems.
• Participate in design reviews for new products and custom systems, providing manufacturing input on materials, methods, and sequencing.
• Communicate process changes, deviations, and lessons learned back to engineering in a structured, documented format.

Quality Control Support

• Partner with the QC team to define inspection methods, acceptance criteria, and non-conformance procedures for FRP fabrication.
• Support root cause analysis on quality escapes, trace defects back to process gaps and drive corrective action including updated documentation.
• Ensure that laminate schedules, resin mix ratios, cure parameters, and secondary bond procedures are appropriate and consistently followed and verified.
• Support ASTM, ASME RTP-1, SMACNA and applicable customer specifications for vessel construction and inspection.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and prioritize process improvement opportunities that reduce rework, scrap, and cycle time. Help drive Lean practices (Standard Work, Set up Reduction, Daily and Visual Management, 5S, Variation Reduction, etc.)
• Drive structured problem-solving (8D, A3, or equivalent) for recurring manufacturing issues.
• Track and report on key manufacturing metrics: rework hours, scrap rates, lamination defect trends, first-pass quality.
• Support implementation of visual management tools and shop floor control systems.

Materials & Methods

• Improve Safety
• Maintain working knowledge of manufacturing methods: hand layup, filament winding, contact molding, and secondary bonding.
• Evaluate and qualify new materials, suppliers, and fabrication techniques as needed.
• Coordinate with Purchasing on material specifications to ensure incoming materials meet engineering and process requirements.

QualificationsRequired

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in FRP fabrication or composite manufacturing.
• Experience developing improvement priorities and running Kaizen events (Toyota Production System Lean -based vs Six Sigma-based).
• Direct knowledge of FRP vessel construction filament winding, hand layup, vessel internals (weirs, distributors, packing supports, sump configurations).
• Working knowledge of resin systems: vinyl ester, isophthalic polyester, bisphenol epoxy; including gel coats, cure agents, and corrosion-resistant liner design.
• Demonstrated ability to document manufacturing processes at a level that enables reproducibility without the originating technician present.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, and fabrication specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication and able to work effectively with engineers, QC inspectors, and shop floor personnel.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Strongly Preferred

• Familiarity with ASTM C582, ASTM D2310, ASME RTP-1, or SMACNA standards.
• Experience in air pollution control, chemical processing, or industrial water/wastewater applications.
• Background in FRP ductwork, custom vessels, or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments.
• Experience with quality management systems.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field or equivalent professional experience.

Performance Expectations

In the first 90 days, the Manufacturing Engineer is expected to:

• Complete a structured shop floor knowledge audit identifying the top 10 undocumented processes with the highest risk of quality or delivery impact.
• Produce initial SOPs for at least 3 high-priority fabrication processes.
• Establish a working relationship with the QC team and participate in at least 2 quality review meetings.
• Identify and resolve at least 2 manufacturability issues found in released engineering drawings.
• Participate in 2 Kaizen events (not required to lead)

Ongoing performance will be measured against:

• Volume and quality of manufacturing documentation produced.
• Reduction in rework hours and fabrication-related NCRs tied to process non-conformance.
• Engineering-to-shop feedback loop: documented issues raised and resolved.
• Adoption rate of SOPs and work instructions by the production team.

Working Conditions

• Primarily shop floor environment exposure to resins, solvents, and fabrication noise. PPE required.
• Regular standing, walking, and physical inspection of in-process work.
• Some office/computer time for documentation, drawing review, and reporting.
• Occasional travel to customer sites may be required.

ECS Environmental Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

Pay: $78,000.00 - $98,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person