Manufacturing Engineer

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are:

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you’re ready to grow, you’ve come to the right place. With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.

Travel Required: 30-45%

• This position is 100% onsite in Advance, NC

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing manufacturing processes and facility layouts to enhance production efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This role will manage key engineering projects from concept to completion, including equipment specification, procurement, and installation. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on problem-solver with a strong foundation in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.

Process Design & Improvement:

• Design and improve manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for assembly, fabrication, and material handling.
• Analyze production workflows, identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and implement robust solutions to improve throughput and reduce waste.
• Develop and maintain standard work instructions, process flow diagrams, and manufacturing documentation.

Equipment & Facility Projects:

• Develop detailed specifications for new manufacturing equipment and automation systems.
• Manage the procurement process, including vendor selection, quoting, and capital justification (ROI analysis) as well as RFP and RFQ's.
• Oversee the installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment, ensuring it meets all performance and safety requirements.
• Lead plant layout projects, using CAD software to design efficient and ergonomic work cells and facility flows.

Project Management:

• Manage cross-functional engineering projects from inception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
• Coordinate with internal teams (operations, maintenance, quality) and external vendors to ensure successful project execution.
• Develop project timelines, track milestones, and provide regular status updates to leadership.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing:

• Implement and champion lean manufacturing principles (e.g., 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping) across the facility.
• Lead and participate in continuous improvement events and initiatives to drive a culture of operational excellence.
• Use data analysis and root cause analysis tools to solve complex manufacturing problems.

Qualifications and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 2-5 years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing engineering role within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience with plant layouts, process design, and equipment installation projects.
• Demonstrated experience with project management, including managing timelines and budgets.
• Strong understanding and practical application of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Proficiency with 2D/3D CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks).

Preferred:

• Experience in an industrial environment, such as manufacturing.
• Experience with automation, robotics, or advanced manufacturing technology.

Work Environment:

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.

• (Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.

• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.

• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.

• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.

• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture’s Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:

Corporate Social Responsibility

View Our Corporate Brochure

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Notice to Search Firms: We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. We will not pay any placement, referral or other fees to any search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries.