Process Control Engineering Leader - Plant 10

Howmet Aerospace•Whitehall, MI

About The Position

The Process Control Engineering Leader oversees key manufacturing processes and leads a team of Process Owners in investment castings science areas, including wax, shell, casting, heat treat, core removal, braze, and post-cast processing. The role is accountable for ensuring manufacturing processes meet engineering requirements and aerospace quality standards, including AS9100 and NADCAP, while maintaining process control, standardizing practices, and reducing variability. The leader defines short- and long-term process goals and improvement strategies, establishes and monitors key input and output variables (KIVs and KOVs), and sets performance measures for Process Owners. The position drives improvements in quality, productivity, cost, scrap, and rework, and expands the use of data science and AI in process control. It also leads capital projects and Lean Six Sigma improvement initiatives, supports the transition to advanced manufacturing methods, and develops business continuity plans for equipment and process readiness. Working across functions and global locations, the role shares best practices and supports first-pass quality and output. It includes customer liaison, technical communication, creative problem solving, mentoring, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and influencing teams to achieve measurable business outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing.
At least 1 year of leadership experience.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
Proven experience managing teams of engineers or Process Owners.
Deep knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, such as CNC machining, composites, and special treatments.
Strong understanding of AS9100 and NADCAP certification requirements.
Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with all levels of the organization.
Ability to lead, motivate, and influence cross-functional teams.
High level of judgment in addressing complex technical and operational problems.
Ability to act with composure and confidence in high-pressure situations.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor Process Owners responsible for manufacturing processes in investment casting science areas: wax, shell, casting, heat treat, core removal, braze, and post-cast processing.
Define short- and long-term goals and vision for each process to ensure compliance, improve control, reduce scrap and rework, improve cost, and support operations.
Set performance measures and KPIs for Process Owners and track progress against productivity and quality goals.
Define KOVs and KIVs for each process and drive improvements to reduce scrap and rework across product lines.
Increase utilization of data science and AI for process control.
Serve as the overall authority for process control and ensure manufacturing steps adhere to engineering requirements and AS9100/NADCAP compliance.
Implement Statistical Process Control (SPC) and real-time monitoring to ensure process stability.
Identify root causes and implement corrective actions to reduce scrap and rework.
Lead and support capital expenditure projects from concept through production release.
Lead process improvement projects involving scrap/rework reduction, cost reduction, and cycle-time reduction using Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
Support the transition from traditional manufacturing to advanced methods.
Develop business continuity plans for plant equipment and process readiness.
Collaborate with Business Unit Process Owners to share and adopt best practices across global locations, maximizing first-pass quality and output.
Understand and communicate customer specifications, serving as a point of contact for technical requirements internally and externally.
Facilitate creative problem solving and continuous improvement, and encourage innovation in technology, processes, and techniques.
Collaborate across disciplines, operations, and campus areas to eliminate barriers and silos.
Mentor and coach associates at senior and junior levels, preparing them for success and supporting learning about technical requirements.
Communicate expectations, capabilities, limitations, and complex technical topics clearly and diplomatically.
Influence teams, address conflict effectively, and focus on quality and quantifiable business outcomes.
Adapt to change and resolve unexpected issues while maintaining focus on key objectives.