Process Engineer - Plastics

About the role

A dynamic, growth‑oriented manufacturer that converts advanced materials into highly engineered components for healthcare, aerospace, transportation, defense, and consumer markets. The company integrates product design, tooling, precision molding, and finishing to deliver complex molded and sealing solutions, partnering closely with customers to solve technical challenges and bring innovative products to life.

Responsibilities

• Lead high‑impact initiatives aimed at improving consistency, lowering operating costs, and elevating product quality.
• Identify performance gaps and execute measurable improvements at scale.
• Design, refine, and sustain process controls that reliably achieve safety, quality, and throughput objectives.
• Validate new processes to ensure repeatable and predictable outcomes.
• Act as a primary engineering resource to operations, providing rapid diagnosis and resolution of complex manufacturing challenges.
• Support production teams with practical, data‑driven solutions.
• Apply statistical methods and analytical tools to evaluate process performance, enhance process capability, and support equipment and product launches.
• Develop and maintain structured manufacturing documentation such as process maps, risk analyses, control strategies, standard operating procedures, and detailed work instructions.
• Support the introduction of new machinery and automation by developing integration plans, establishing operational parameters, and optimizing system controls for long‑term stability.
• Review and execute manufacturing‑related engineering changes, ensuring process integrity, proper validation, and accurate record updates.
• Implement mistake‑proofing solutions at critical points in the production process and maintain compliance with relevant continuous improvement and quality standards.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of engineering experience within a high‑output manufacturing environment, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline (Mechanical preferred).
• Working knowledge of industrial control systems, including PLC and CNC platforms.
• Preferred experience in rubber molding, material treatment/coating operations, or similar material transformation environments.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Full health benefits
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Ownership of EHS (environment, health, safety) initiatives
• Advancement opportunities through rapid growth

Pay

Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000 per year.

Schedule

Full‑time, on‑site position based in Vandalia, IL.