Job Description

Mechanical Engineer

Location: Taylor, Michigan (Onsite)

Important: This position requires regular on-site work in Taylor, Michigan. Applicants must be able to reliably commute to the work location. Relocation assistance is not provided.

Who This Role Is For

This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer with 1-3 years of experience leading capital or process improvement projects in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment. This is a plant-based, operations-focused role, not a design-only position.

About Worthington Steel

Founded on The Golden Rule and driven by innovation, Worthington Steel is North America’s premier value-added steel processor. We lead through integrity, continuous improvement, and putting people first—our customers, our communities, and our employees.

The Mechanical Engineer will own and lead capital improvement and reliability projects across slitting, shipping, receiving, and maintenance operations. This role is responsible for driving measurable improvements in safety, equipment reliability, product quality, and throughput.

This is a highly visible, hands-on role requiring strong collaboration with Maintenance, Production, and leadership teams reporting to the Operations Manager.

What You’ll Own

• Own capital projects from concept through execution, including scope development, vendor selection, installation, commissioning, and training
• Lead structured problem-solving initiatives (A3, 8D, PDCA, SMED) to address downtime, scrap, and process inefficiencies
• Analyze maintenance and production data to identify root causes and implement preventive actions
• Partner with Maintenance and Production to improve equipment reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
• Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives to improve flow, reduce waste, and increase throughput
• Ensure compliance with ISO/IATF standards, OSHA regulations, and EH&S policies
• Participate in Gemba walks, audits, and process validations

Example Projects

• Upgrading slitting line equipment to improve uptime and throughput
• Leading root cause analysis on recurring downtime or quality issues
• Implementing SMED initiatives to reduce changeover times
• Supporting installation and startup of new capital equipment

Minimum Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 1+ years of experience in a manufacturing or heavy industrial environment
• Demonstrated experience leading capital or equipment-related projects from concept through implementation
• Hands-on experience with mechanical systems (hydraulics, pneumatics, automated equipment)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in steel processing, coil handling, slitting, blanking, or similar continuous manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 standards
• Familiarity with SAP, CMMS systems, or OEE dashboards
• Experience working in Lean manufacturing environments

Why You’ll Love This Role

• Make a direct impact on safety, quality, and production performance
• Own meaningful, visible projects with real operational impact
• Work in a collaborative, people-first culture grounded in strong values
• Be part of a company committed to continuous improvement and employee development

Note: Candidates without prior manufacturing or industrial experience are unlikely to be a fit for this role.

Hesitant to apply because you may not meet every specific requirement? If this role is something you are interested in, but your previous experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply! At Worthington Steel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We recognize that individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds are essential to our success. You may be the perfect candidate for this role or others within our organization.

Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions are driving steel toward a more sustainable future.

As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its 4,600 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value-added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking, specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington operates 32 facilities in seven states and six countries. Following a people-first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees, and strengthening its communities.

Worthington Steel Inc., and its subsidiaries, is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability or veteran’s status.