Manufacturing Engineer II
Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Walk me through a new product introduction you coordinated on the manufacturing floor. What was your role from design handoff to full production ramp?
What they are checking: whether the candidate has actually owned an NPI launch end to end versus just supporting one
Tell me about a time you improved a process flow on a mixed model line. What was slowing things down and how did you fix it?
What they are checking: real hands-on lean and value stream experience versus textbook knowledge
Describe a situation where you had to get shop floor operators on board with a process change they were resistant to.
What they are checking: skill at influencing frontline staff without formal authority over them
Tell me about a time your project deadline got moved up unexpectedly. How did you reprioritize?
What they are checking: ability to manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment as the posting emphasizes
Describe a conflict you had with another department, maybe quality or supply chain, over a manufacturing decision. How did it get resolved?
What they are checking: cross-functional collaboration and conflict resolution skills called out in the posting
What would you do
Say you're asked to redesign a work cell that currently runs high mix, low volume, but the plant wants to shift toward higher volume with fewer variants. How would you approach the layout change?
What they are checking: ability to adapt engineering approach to different production environments rather than applying one template
A supplier issue causes a material shortage mid-shift and the line is about to stop. What do you do in the first hour?
What they are checking: practical problem-solving under pressure and understanding of material flow synchronization
If you inherited a value stream with three chronic bottlenecks and only budget to fix one this quarter, how would you decide which one to tackle first?
What they are checking: prioritization logic and understanding of cost of operation versus quick wins
About the work
What CAD tools have you used for layout and tooling design, and can you describe a project where your design went from concept to installed equipment on the floor?
What they are checking: depth of practical CAD and equipment justification experience, not just software familiarity
Have you done any PLC programming as part of equipment implementation? Tell me about a specific case.
What they are checking: whether PLC experience is real and hands-on or just listed as a familiarity
What does demand-driven manufacturing mean to you, and can you give an example of applying it, or something like flexibility and responsiveness principles, in a past role?
What they are checking: understanding of the specific operational philosophy Generac wants, not generic lean buzzwords
Tell me about a piece of equipment or tooling you selected and justified for purchase. How did you build the business case?
What they are checking: experience with capital justification and equipment selection, a core listed responsibility
What process documentation or standard work have you written, and how did you make sure it actually got used on the floor?
What they are checking: whether the candidate treats documentation as a checkbox or as a working tool for sustaining improvement
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Generac.