Product Technology Engineer

Job Description

Basic Function:

Works independently or in conjunction with other engineers, commercial team, plant managers, production superintendents, and/or production, and maintenance personnel both in-house and at customer level in analyzing and developing solutions to processes for the direct support of extrusion, printing, and/or converting processes.  

This includes design and development of new processes, modifications of existing processes, raw material replacements efforts, product line extensions, cost improvement initiatives, and quality improvement projects.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1.    Working independently or with others to develop improved methods for delivering finished product to our customers.

2.    Leads the qualification of alternate resins and raw materials both for cost savings, obsolescence, and business continuity purposes.

3.    Leads product line extension projects to expand product offers.  Works with R&D on innovation projects to qualify and commercialize new development product offerings.

4.    Interacting with customers, R&D, Business Unit Leaders, and other Process Engineering functions, to assist with quality concerns and assists in identifying new or improved products or methods for delivering value-added products to customers.

5.    Identifies and serves as the primary driver for cost improvement projects to remove costs from current and new operations.

6.    Serves as the primary technical lead for quality improvement projects.

7.    Stay abreast of new equipment / process developments in the Plastics Extrusion and Web Converting fields.

8.    Communicate regularly to share combined knowledge with process engineers in other locations.

9.    Serves as an expert in troubleshooting manufacturing problems and identifying solutions with data-based decision making.

10.   Identify and implement new/improved methods of manufacturing to improve profitability.

Qualifications

Requirements:
1.    Demonstrated flexibility within a high-performance work environment and matrix managed organization.
2.    Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with professional presentation and negotiation skills.
3.    Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering required.
4.    Requires experience with varied manufacturing processes such as extrusion, printing, laminating, web converting, and pouch/bag making.
5.    Requires knowledge of statistical techniques and tools, their use and interpretation
6.    Requires ability to manage a project and process involving multiple manufacturing areas, plants, and across various portions of the business.
7.    Has demonstrated ability to work independently and focus on critical project parameters that determine success or failure.  
8.    Minimum three years prior experience in Process Engineering or Product Development role.
9.    Design of Experiments, Lean Six Sigma, SPC or equivalent experience preferred
10.    Self-starter capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
11.    Travel up to 20%.

Safety Requirements: 
1.    Works around rotating equipment, hot polymers, and high noise environments.
2.    Required to wear safety shoes as well as standard PPE.
3.    Exposed to various chemicals throughout the site.
4.    Comply with all established facility safety rules and policies.  
5.    Attend and participate in monthly safety meetings.   
6.    Report unsafe conditions or injuries immediately.