Senior Process Engineer

About the role

Establish, maintain, and optimize process engineering operations within a technical ceramic manufacturing facility. This role serves as the primary owner for transitioning new processes from R&D into full-scale manufacturing, including specifying equipment, oversight of equipment installation, commissioning, validation, and process scale-up activities. The position partners cross-functionally to execute engineering initiatives aligned with business unit strategies, while driving operational excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Work safely and encourage a safety mindset.
• Ceramic powder formulation and process development to produce ready-to-press products.
• Lead commissioning activities, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and process validation.
• Develop best method manufacturing processes for new products and materials.
• Manage capital projects from scoping and justification, through equipment procurement and installation.
• Responsible for process improvements that deliver yield or throughput gains.
• Lead problem solving activities for complex process and equipment related issues.
• Develop, review, and update work instructions, quality control documentation, and operator training as required.
• Serve as the primary interface with manufacturers and vendors that supply raw materials and process equipment to the company, from specification setting through implementation, into manufacturing and acceptance testing.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements.
• Perform detailed analysis for executive review and effectively communicate findings across all organizational levels.
• Monitor production standards and performance metrics including output, downtime, scrap, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality, engineering, and supply chain teams to optimize production processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline. Master’s degree a plus.
• Minimum 7 years in a process engineering role in a manufacturing environment.
• Preferred experience in a technical ceramic manufacturing environment.
• Particular expertise in batching calculations, mixing, spray-drying, calcining, and fine particle milling.
• Additional experience in dry-pressing, hot-pressing, sintering, and ceramic machining processes considered a strong plus.

Skills

• Analytical/Critical Thinking: Identify root causes, implement effective solutions, improve processes, mentor others in data-driven strategies, and foster innovation through critical thinking and self-reflection.
• Business Acumen: Align individual and/or departmental goals with organizational strategy, while collaborating cross-functionally to improve operational metrics.
• Communication: Effectively communicate technical and strategic information across all levels of the organization, while remaining responsive to feedback and stakeholder needs.
• Data Analysis: Utilize a data-driven approach to product development with a key focus on the powder production aspect, while mentoring others and effectively communicating insights to leadership.
• Project Management: Independently lead multi-phase projects, including scope definition, budget management, schedule control, and contractor oversight.
• Management, testing, acceptance testing, manufacturing.