Associate, Product Manufacturing Engineer

Job description

We are hiring an Associate, Product Manufacturing Engineer

DISCOVER

At Sauna360, we help people prioritize health, recovery, relaxation, and well-being through premium sauna and wellness solutions. This role will lead sauna manufacturing engineering in Cokato, Minnesota, supporting the continued growth and evolution of the Sauna360 brand.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an engineer who enjoys transforming manufacturing processes, solving complex production challenges, and building the systems needed to scale. You will help move the operation toward flow-based manufacturing while advancing safety, productivity, yield, automation, and manufacturing capability.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Manufacturing Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Lead sauna manufacturing engineering in Cokato and create the processes needed to enable a successful transition to flow-based manufacturing.
• Apply Continuous Improvement, DMAIC, and Lean methodologies to improve yield, productivity, material flow, and process performance.
• Lead safety-focused improvement projects and provide escalated process troubleshooting and daily manufacturing problem solving.

Process Design & Manufacturing Readiness

• Develop process maps, labor analysis, capacity models, and cost-benefit assessments to guide project planning and execution.
• Establish standard work, operating procedures, and training materials for new and improved manufacturing processes.
• Guide technical roadmaps supporting growth investments and manufacturing information and data infrastructure.

Capital Projects, Automation & Leadership

• Lead or support capital upgrades and automation projects, including equipment integration, workflow redesign, commissioning, and startup.
• Partner across manufacturing and business teams to translate operational needs into practical, scalable engineering solutions.
• Provide technical leadership to engineering and improvement resources, with the potential for direct-report responsibility.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

This role will help shape how Sauna360 manufactures for the future. The work directly supports safer operations, stronger process capability, improved productivity, and the manufacturing capacity needed to support business growth.

You will have the opportunity to influence both daily production performance and longer-term manufacturing strategy, from problem solving on the floor to capital equipment, automation, standard work, and technical roadmaps.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar engineering field, completed and verified prior to start.
• Three or more years of experience leading process improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment, including process or material flow analysis, Lean manufacturing, root cause problem solving, and variability. Internship and co-op experience may count toward experience.
• Five or more years of process engineering experience is preferred.
• Applied experience with Lean and/or Six Sigma methodology.
• Experience with CAD and design engineering; woodworking and assembly manufacturing experience are pluses.
• Familiarity with manufacturing metrics and support systems, including ERP or MES systems.

WHY SAUNA360?

• Join a growing wellness brand focused on premium sauna products that support health, recovery, relaxation, and overall well-being.
• Take a visible role in shaping manufacturing processes, capacity, automation, and technical capability at the Cokato operation.
• Work on meaningful engineering challenges spanning safety, flow, productivity, yield, capital equipment, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing teams and business partners to move ideas from analysis through implementation and startup.
• Help build the manufacturing foundation needed to support the continued growth of a premium wellness brand.
• Experience a culture that values ethics, transparency, inclusion, accountability, strong relationships, collaboration, safety, and work-life balance.

POSITION DETAILS

• Location: Cokato, Minnesota
• Business Area: Manufacturing Engineering
• Full-time position

Company: Watkins Wellness

Watkins (the “Company”) is an equal opportunity employer and we strive to employ the most qualified individuals for every position. The Company makes employment decisions only based on merit. It is the Company’s policy to prohibit discrimination in any employment opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, employment, promotion, salary increases, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. The Company is committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all people involved in the operations of the Company regardless of where the employee is located and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of the Company.

Watkins is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States. Please click on the following links for more information.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English & Spanish
E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English & Spanish