Process Engineer I, (Heat Treatment)

Hitchiner•Milford, NH

About The Position

The Process Engineer I owns an individual process within investment casting operations, which may include wax, shell, casting, post-casting, heat treatment, and other processes. The role establishes and maintains internal standard operating procedures for the assigned manufacturing area or discipline and reviews and approves raw materials, vendor interfaces, and equipment and system specifications and controls. Products may serve aerospace, automotive, and defense markets. The engineer monitors process indicators and uses corrective action, PFMEA, statistical analysis, and targeted improvement methods to reduce variation and costs, improve efficiency, and enhance product and process quality. The position also evaluates engineering changes, supports process development and design, verifies equipment calibration, and works with production, engineering, design, suppliers, and maintenance personnel. The role requires knowledge of heat treatment and thermal processing, furnace operation and controls, metallurgical principles, temperature uniformity surveys, pyrometry, calibration, process validation, and AMS2750 compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 2–4 years of experience, or equivalent knowledge.
Experience in thermal processing, furnace operation and controls, metallurgical principles, temperature uniformity surveys, pyrometry, calibration, and process validation.
Knowledge of AMS2750 compliance to ensure consistent, traceable, and quality heat treatment operations.
Familiarity with heat transfer, fluid dynamics, material solidification, metallurgical/material science, and manufacturing technologies involving metals, plastics, and ceramics.
Good communication and organizational skills.
Computer literacy, including competency with general MS Office applications, technical computer modeling, and statistical tools.
Project management experience working within budget and time constraints.

Responsibilities

Maintain key process indicators for an assigned manufacturing process, with goals of reducing process variation and costs and improving efficiency.
Investigate manufacturing and process issues and initiate corrective actions that improve standard operating procedures.
Maintain the PFMEA for an assigned manufacturing process and lead targeted product or process improvement efforts using the DMAIC approach.
Review and evaluate engineering changes and specification requirements, serving as a technical liaison with production planning and engineering personnel.
Work with Product Engineering to recommend process development and design best practices that improve product and procedural quality.
Verify equipment calibration and technically evaluate, vet, and approve equipment and raw material suppliers; review incoming material certifications as applicable.
Analyze statistical data on process and product outputs to support improvement decisions.
Establish operating equipment specifications and process control limits, improve manufacturing techniques, and introduce new processing equipment into production.
Interface with design personnel to ensure processes and designs are compatible.
Communicate equipment issues and preventive maintenance needs effectively to the maintenance team, applying a basic understanding of mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and vacuum systems.
Deliver commitments in a timely and efficient manner.
As needed, help train and develop less experienced technical personnel.
Observe the Hitchiner code of conduct and safety and quality principles.
Perform other duties as assigned.