Process Engineer I

Heraeus is a family-owned global technology group helping customers stay one step ahead through innovations in materials, medical technologies, and precious metals. Heraeus Covantics specializes in high-purity quartz glass, ceramics, and composites for telecommunications, specialty fibers, semiconductor manufacturing, and optics. With over 2,000 employees worldwide, we offer an innovation-driven work environment and opportunities for global teamwork and social responsibility.

About the role

The Process Engineer I will assume technical ownership of assigned process areas, using engineering, continuous improvement, and project management skills to optimize manufacturing processes. This hands-on, data-driven role involves close collaboration with Production and Maintenance teams to improve yield, quality, and cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Assume technical ownership of assigned process areas to stabilize and improve manufacturing processes.
• Analyze process, machine, and quality data to identify and resolve issues, optimizing yield, minimizing scrap, and reducing costs.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, technical support, troubleshooting, and problem-solving for operations and maintenance.
• Coordinate with operations to establish and meet department-level KPIs.
• Manage engineering and capital projects as assigned.
• Industrialize and scale up new processes and products in assigned areas.
• Support a culture of safety, quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, R&D, Project Engineering, Quality, and Sales to achieve business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 0–5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with statistical analysis of large datasets.
• Working knowledge of SQL and/or data-analytics tools; strong proficiency in MS Excel.

Skills

• Preferred skills in one or more of the following:
  • Data analysis (JMP, Qlik, Power Query).
  • Data-driven process improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, DMAIC, PDCA).
  • Building and troubleshooting PC hardware.
  • Interpreting electrical and mechanical drawings.
  • High-temperature processing of quartz glass, especially in fiber-telecom contexts.
• Willingness to work hands-on with manufacturing equipment and collaborate closely with Production and Maintenance teams.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.