Manufacturing Process Engineer

Vital Chemicals USA LLC•Perrysburg, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Process Engineer is responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining manufacturing processes to achieve world-class levels of safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance within a complex manufacturing environment. This role supports continuous improvement initiatives, equipment and process capability development, root cause analysis, and operational excellence efforts across production operations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering professional with strong technical problem-solving abilities, experience in industrial manufacturing environments, and a continuous improvement mindset. Experience with grit blasting and surface preparation processes is required. Automotive manufacturing experience is highly preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Applied Physics, Surface Science, Chemistry, or related technical field.
Minimum of 5 years of hands-on manufacturing or process engineering experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
Required experience with grit blasting, abrasive blasting, or surface preparation manufacturing processes.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing equipment, automation systems, controls, thermal processing, and process optimization.
Experience troubleshooting manufacturing defects and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience with process validation, capability studies, SPC, FMEA, APQP, and control plans.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
Strong analytical and root cause problem-solving skills utilizing structured methodologies.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing systems such as SAP and Minitab.

Nice To Haves

Automotive manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
Experience in highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Experience supporting AS9100, ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or similar quality systems.
Experience with predictive maintenance and reliability-centered manufacturing.
Exposure to PLC-controlled equipment and automated production systems.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, quality, throughput, efficiency, and cost performance.
Support and improve grit blasting and surface preparation operations to ensure process capability and product quality requirements are consistently achieved.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and standard work methodologies.
Troubleshoot process variation, equipment downtime, and product defects using structured root cause analysis techniques.
Develop and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and R&D teams to improve manufacturing performance.
Analyze operational and statistical process data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
Support APQP activities, product launches, sample production, and change management processes.
Develop, review, and maintain manufacturing work instructions, process documentation, inspection criteria, and standard operating procedures.
Participate in Material Review Boards (MRB) and Failure Review Boards (FRB), including disposition of nonconforming materials and implementation of corrective actions.
Support reliability and predictive maintenance initiatives to maximize equipment uptime and process stability.
Ensure manufacturing processes comply with customer requirements, engineering specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
Track, report, and communicate key manufacturing metrics to leadership.
Promote and maintain a safe, organized, and compliant work environment.