Sr. Manufacturing Run Plant Engineer

NuSil (a part of Avantor) is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Run Plant Engineer to oversee all phases of small-scale process improvement projects in production. This full-time role is based in Carpinteria, CA and involves collaboration with internal teams such as R&D, production, quality, and maintenance, as well as external parties like equipment vendors.

Responsibilities

• Optimize manufacturing processes to enhance safety, efficiency, and product quality, ensuring reliability and scalability of processes and equipment for new product introductions.
• Support implementation of new manufacturing processes and methods.
• Document research findings and create necessary documentation.
• Manage multiple projects and processes, including process design improvements and equipment upgrades, within the manufacturing environment.
• Perform hands-on execution of laboratory studies and/or technology projects as needed.
• Address complex and varied challenges by analyzing diverse data and operational factors, deriving solutions based on engineering principles.
• Adhere to company safety policies and develop strategies for managing competing demands using time management tools (e.g., leader standard work).
• Resolve production issues promptly (e.g., NCRs, CAPAs) and coordinate cross-functional teams (manufacturing, quality assurance, engineering, operations) to achieve goals.
• Identify and mitigate potential hazardous situations and processes.
• Implement enhanced technologies to improve Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) attributes of manufacturing practices.
• Independently design and manage projects to timelines, ensuring thorough coordination, team formation, training, data collection, analysis, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Assume ownership of project completion, escalating issues as needed, and ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
• Design and implement new processes based on analysis and maintain quality within the scope of the role.
• Review process reproducibility trends, improve product robustness and repeatability, and train others on trend analysis and notification processes.
• Define, measure, analyze, improve, and control processes, products, and equipment using problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC) and lean (e.g., kanbans) tools.
• Recognize the need for new processes through observation, analysis, and team involvement, and anticipate potential process breakdowns.
• Analyze process capacity, throughput, and costs to drive improvements in manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with R&D on effective design, scale-up, and transition of new products to manufacturing, including product and process design.
• Design new equipment and/or processes to support new and existing technologies.
• Quickly learn processes, chemistry, and equipment to lead systematic problem-solving activities.
• Devise and implement plans to improve process flow/output using Lean Manufacturing concepts.
• Train, direct daily activities, and verify the accuracy of work performed by others for project completion.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of related experience in a comparable role within a chemical or mechanical manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of process production activities, basic problem-solving tools (DMAIC), and lean manufacturing concepts (kanbans, kaizen, 5S).
• Ability to work in a cross-functional environment and make well-grounded decisions using quality and engineering tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) with the ability to implement appropriate metrics and monitoring.
• Experience with continuous quality improvement implementations, Lean Initiatives, and participation in kaizen events.
• Ability to plan and manage multiple short-term, medium-term, and long-term projects simultaneously.
• Ability to specify future state improvements and devise actionable plans to achieve goals.
• Expert computer skills (MS Word, Excel); ability to program macros in Visual Basic is preferred.
• Training in APICS, ASQ, or related business organizations (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean) is preferred.

Benefits

Join a global team of 14,000+ associates driving life-changing science. Avantor offers opportunities to contribute to impactful projects, such as bringing new patient treatments and therapies to market or enabling medical devices that transform lives. The company supports career growth through diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning experiences.

Pay

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $86,000.00 – $138,000.00. Actual pay may vary based on prior experience and geographic location.