Plating Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Plating Manufacturing Engineer to join our dynamic team in Louisville. The Plating Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in supporting the plating operations and production of highly technical naval gun components.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, sustain, and support day-to-day plating manufacturing processes, programs, and activities in the Plate Shop, including techniques such as electroplating, electroless plating, and anodizing different material types.
• Ensure process reliability by providing technical leadership and support to bargaining unit plate technicians, operations supervisors, and other engineers.
• Create and maintain process specifications, manufacturing routings, work instructions, and supporting documentation.
• Create, maintain, and optimize chemical tanks and plating baths in compliance with internal safety standards and external regulations.
• Adhere to all safety policies and promote a culture of safety amongst manufacturing employees.
• Perform and lead laboratory testing to perform analysis on cleaning, coating and plating baths and assure the quality thereof.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for plating processes focused on quality, yield, cost reduction, and process robustness.
• Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in the design, development, and optimization of precision plating processes, including equipment selection, tooling, fixtures, and process parameters.
• Estimate cycle times, labor requirements, and process costs for Basis of Estimate (BOE) proposals.
• Implement procedures for transitioning new products in the manufacturing line.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional projects, serving as the plating subject-matter expert.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or closely related field.
• 4 years experience to include 3 years of hands-on experience working in a laboratory or manufacturing engineering role.
• Thorough understanding of the chemical and physical principles underlying the plating processes, enabling the appropriate selection of materials and methods tailored to specific applications.
• Ability to identify color changes in chemical indicators for proper endpoint determination in volumetric titrations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Preferred

• Experience with plating processes including manganese phosphate, chromate conversion coating, aluminum anodizing, tin plating, black oxide, zinc plating, hard chrome plating, or brush plate.
• Experience with metal finishing processes and working knowledge of different metal alloys and how the cleaning and plating/coating processes affect them.
• Experience in a lab setting for performing analysis on cleaning, coating and plating baths.
• Experience in precision manufacturing or high-reliability components.
• Experience in project management, including leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with wastewater treatment and environmental compliance in metal finishing operations.
• Able to use critical thinking to resolve issues, conduct root cause analysis, and make recommendations for process improvements.

Pay

Full-Time Salary Range: $88,189 - $149,922. Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health savings accounts.
• A 401(k) savings plan.
• Disability coverage.
• Life and accident insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Legal plan.
• Discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance.
• Leave programs including paid time off, paid holidays, and other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave.
• Recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards.
• Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.