RIX Industries – Hiring for Manufacturing Engineer @Sparks, NV

About Company

RIX Industries is a legacy technology firm, founded in 1878, that specializes in highly engineered systems for the most demanding environments on Earth—and beyond. They are world leaders in gas generation, precision compressors, and cryogenic cooling used in nuclear submarines, aerospace platforms, and critical energy infrastructure.

Job Details

Job Description

As a Manufacturing Engineer II, you are the primary architect of the production floor. You don’t just follow processes; you own them. You will independently drive improvements across the RIX value stream, ensuring that complex designs are translated into repeatable, high-quality manufacturing sequences. This role is a blend of technical design (tooling and fixtures), data analysis (throughput and cycle times), and leadership (mentoring junior engineers).

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience: Minimum of 4 years in a manufacturing or industrial engineering role.
• Mathematics: Strong proficiency in algebra, geometry, and advanced concepts including:
• Differential Calculus: $\frac{dy}{dx}$ for optimizing rate-based processes.
• Polynomial Equations: Used in modeling performance curves and material behaviors.
• Technical Skills:
• Working knowledge of Autodesk Inventor (CAD).
• Deep understanding of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
• Advanced knowledge of BOM (Bill of Materials) structuring and routings.
• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or qualified U.S. Person (due to ITAR and potential DOD clearance requirements).

Roles and Responsibilities

• Process Ownership: Develop and improve manufacturing methods, operation sequences, and documentation for subassemblies and final systems.
• Design for Manufacture (DFM): Influence product design early in the lifecycle to improve assembly efficiency and reduce costs.
• Root Cause Analysis: Lead investigations into manufacturing failures (NCRs/CARs) and implement permanent corrective actions in collaboration with Quality.
• Financial Analysis: Estimate manufacturing costs and perform basic business calculations such as ROI and NPV:
• Continuous Improvement: Lead Lean events or Kaizen activities to eliminate waste and optimize the value stream.
• Tooling & Equipment: Evaluate requirements for new machinery and support the implementation of capital equipment on the floor.
• Production Support: Troubleshoot bottlenecks and equipment issues in real-time to keep production schedules on track.

How to Apply?

Role Summary

The ME II at RIX acts as the “Technical Engine” of the Sparks facility. You bridge the gap between R&D and the shop floor. When a new cryogenic cooling system is designed, you are the person who determines how it will be built, what tools are needed, how much it will cost, and how to ensure the process is safe and ergonomic.

Company Culture & Insights

RIX Industries combines the stability of a 145-year-old heritage with the high-tech demands of modern aerospace and green energy. The culture is “low ego, high impact.” In Sparks, NV, you’ll find a production-heavy environment where engineers are expected to be hands-on. RIX values ingenuity—they tackle problems that others find too complex, such as high-pressure gas systems for the Navy.

Why We Recommend This Job

• Technical Density: You aren’t just making widgets; you are building complex machinery that involves thermodynamics, high-pressure physics, and precision mechanics.
• End-to-End Ownership: Unlike larger firms where you might own one small part of a process, at RIX, you own the entire manufacturing readiness for a product line.
• Recession-Resilient Markets: With heavy involvement in defense (Navy) and critical infrastructure, RIX is less susceptible to market volatility.

Career Growth Potential

• Senior Manufacturing Engineer: Leading site-wide strategic initiatives and large-scale capital investments.
• Manufacturing Manager: Transitioning into operations leadership, overseeing the entire production staff.
• Operations Excellence Lead: Focusing exclusively on Lean Six Sigma transformations across multiple facilities.

Skills You’ll Gain

Salary & Benefits Info

• Compensation: Starting at $100,000 + DOE (Depends on Experience).
• Retirement/Health: RIX typically provides a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision insurance alongside retirement savings plans.
• Physical Work: Note that you must be able to lift 50 lbs and work in a production environment (stooping, kneeling, standing).

Frequently Asked Interview Questions

1. DFM/DFA: “Can you describe a time you influenced a design engineer to change a part to make it easier to manufacture? What was the impact on cycle time?”
2. Root Cause: “Walk me through your process for resolving a recurring Non-Conformance Report (NCR). How do you distinguish between a ‘symptom’ and a ‘root cause’?”
3. GD&T: “How would you use a Position tolerance at Maximum Material Condition (MMC) to reduce scrap rates on a high-precision compressor component?”
4. Math/Calculus: “How would you use differential calculus to determine the optimal throughput rate of a gas generation system under varying pressure constraints?”

Behavioral & Culture Questions

1. Ingenuity: “RIX values creativity. Tell me about a time you designed a ‘work-around’ or custom tool to solve a bottleneck that standard equipment couldn’t handle.”
2. Collaboration: “Manufacturing engineers often sit between Design and Production. How do you handle a situation where the shop floor refuses to adopt a new process you’ve implemented?”
3. Accountability: “Describe a project you ‘owned’ from start to finish. How did you define success, and how did you measure the ROI of your improvements?”