Process Engineering Supervisor

AFL Telecommunications•Duncan, SC

About The Position

The Process Engineering Supervisor leads the process engineering team supporting Black Jacket manufacturing. This role is accountable for process optimization, product industrialization, safety leadership, quality and cost improvement, capital project support, and structured technical problem-solving. The ideal candidate combines people leadership with practical knowledge of cable manufacturing, extrusion, fiber handling, cabling, jacketing, armoring, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Polymer, Industrial, or a related engineering discipline.
Seven or more years of manufacturing or process engineering experience, including three or more years leading engineers or technical personnel.
Experience in cable, wire, fiber optic, plastics extrusion, polymer processing, or a similar continuous manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated success leading process improvement initiatives and delivering measurable manufacturing results.
Knowledge of polymer processing and extrusion technologies.
Knowledge of Statistical Process Control, process capability analysis, Design of Experiments, and manufacturing data analytics.
Knowledge of Root Cause Analysis, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methods.
Knowledge of industrial automation and controls fundamentals.
Project management, cross-functional communication, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
People leadership skills, including coaching, setting clear expectations, providing feedback, development planning, and succession planning.
Ability to use facts, data, and structured methods to make sound decisions and solve complex manufacturing problems.
Ability to collaborate across Operations, Quality, Product Engineering, suppliers, and other stakeholders, and to communicate technical information, priorities, risks, and recommendations effectively.
Customer-focused approach balancing safety, quality, delivery, and cost; commitment to continuous improvement, safety, and environmental responsibility.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering or Engineering Management.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Fiber optic cable manufacturing experience, including OPGW, ADSS, tight-buffered, harsh-environment cable, or SZ stranding and cabling technologies.
Experience leading large capital projects and commissioning manufacturing equipment.
Knowledge of rheology, polymer material science, and extrusion process optimization.
Experience with ERP systems, preferably Oracle, and familiarity with Industry 4.0, manufacturing data analytics, or digitization initiatives.

Responsibilities

Supervise, coach, and develop Process Engineers; set priorities aligned with business objectives; support recruitment and onboarding; and foster accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Provide technical leadership for tube extrusion, SZ stranding, fiber handling, jacketing and sheathing, armoring, rewinding, and packaging, establishing process standards, operating windows, and control plans.
Improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, equipment effectiveness, process capability, and stability; reduce scrap, rework, downtime, defects, and variability while improving productivity and capacity.
Lead structured root-cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and resolution of chronic manufacturing issues and customer quality concerns.
Lead process development, risk assessments, qualification trials, manufacturing readiness, specifications, and work instructions for new products; partner with Product Engineering to transfer products and technologies into production.
Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC projects; apply statistical methods and data analytics; establish KPIs; and monitor performance trends.
Improve first-pass yield and customer quality performance; support internal and external audits; and help maintain compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements.
Support equipment specification, procurement, FAT, installation, commissioning, startup, and qualification; lead engineering support for new lines and capacity expansions, including technical justification and ROI analysis.
Promote a safety-first culture, lead hazard assessments and mitigation, ensure engineering compliance with safety and environmental requirements, and support waste-reduction initiatives.