Principal Engineer

Clearwater Paper Corporation•Lewiston, ID

1d•$129,500 - $194,500

About The Position

The Principal Engineer serves as the primary subject matter expert in paperboard production across a diverse portfolio of paper machines and product grades. Working with plant and paper machine teams, the role develops and deploys asset reliability strategies that integrate technical support, product development, quality, and predictive maintenance to improve productivity and operating efficiency. The position provides technical leadership for short- and long-term process improvement and capital projects involving machine performance, environmental initiatives, and safety, while strengthening operational, maintenance, outage, technical analysis, and engineering capabilities across the organization. The role identifies and resolves paper machine operational and process-improvement opportunities; evaluates projects; supports product quality and development; and aligns asset capabilities with customer needs. It also promotes continuous improvement, standardized practices, technical collaboration, and knowledge transfer across manufacturing locations and teams. The position coordinates with contractors and service providers and manages chemical and clothing vendor programs with procurement and manufacturing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field.
At least 7 years of progressive experience in paper machine production, process engineering, and manufacturing.
At least 5 years of experience managing project and/or operating budgets.
Experience in the pulp and paper industry.
Experience in manufacturing, commercial (sales), and/or vendor management.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, business intelligence tools, and automated manufacturing and business systems.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper sponsorship to continue working legally in the United States.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary subject matter expert to identify and resolve paper machine operational and process-improvement opportunities using lean manufacturing, root cause analysis, and troubleshooting methodologies.
Research, evaluate, and develop process-improvement and capital projects to enhance paperboard production and support product development.
Collaborate across the organization to provide technical expertise, align stakeholders, and support strategic initiatives.
Develop and execute project plans supporting long-term paper machine strategies.
Coordinate with contractors and service providers to deliver projects and services on time and within budget.
Champion continuous improvement through process optimization, maintenance standards, and engineering best practices.
Support product quality systems and process documentation to deliver consistent products that meet customer and business requirements.
Partner with commercial and manufacturing teams to identify market opportunities by aligning asset capabilities with customer needs.
Communicate, implement, and sustain best practices across manufacturing locations.
Manage chemical and clothing vendor programs in partnership with procurement and manufacturing to support operational performance.
Foster an operating environment that promotes employee engagement and organizational values.
Drive technical collaboration and knowledge sharing across manufacturing and engineering teams.
Develop, transfer, and sustain technical and quality knowledge across departments to strengthen operational capability.
Support technical capability development through coaching, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration.
Promote standardized engineering and operating practices to improve long-term performance and reliability.
Perform other duties as assigned.