Production and Product Industrializing Engineer

Continental•Mount Pleasant, IA

About The Position

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist that develops and produces sustainable, safe and convenient solutions for automotive manufacturers as well as industrial and end customers worldwide. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €39.7 billion in 2024 and currently employs around 95,000 people in 54 countries and markets. ContiTech is one of the world’s leading industry specialists. The Continental group sector offers its customers connected, environment-friendly, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 39,000 employees in more than 40 countries and sales of some 6.4 billion euros (2024), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America. Manages new product introduction and production support engineering for a specific product or group of products after transfer from design to in-house or outsourced production. Interfaces with design, process, test, reliability and manufacturing engineering to solve product issues and production problems. Develops and sustains process improvements to reduce production costs and increase yields. Coordinate and control all production activities in order to meet budget and production targets (e.g. maximize quality and capacity utilization, reduce cost and lead time). Furthermore, the Head of Production initiates and implements action plans for the continuous improvement of all production-relevant processes. HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT? Provide production technical support, quality testing reviews, and troubleshooting of production technical problems. Coordinate processing, technical, and quality activities of the department. Responsible for developing rubber technology knowledge, pursuing cost reductions for current products and processes, maintaining quality standards, and providing technical and decision-making support to the operators on the factory floor. Providing technical customer service; communication with the customer in connection with all technical questions concerning rubber compounds. Introduce, develop, and look after the recipes to ensure meeting the customer requirements. Accompany mixing trials and processing trials at the customer. Responsible for the disposition of non-conforming material according to standards. Maintains reliable processing, compound, and raw material specifications. Sets up experimental laboratory and factory evaluation trials in product and process areas. Maintains technical and quality status reporting requirements. Serves as a source of chemical awareness and compliance. Contribute to strategic and operative planning of the Compounding operations unit (e.g., with respect to investments, health and safety, quality and capacity) Meets daily with mix employees to assess stock and production performance. Resolves technical problems that arise with stocks, materials, and equipment Assist in product release strategy and product return process. Focused efforts on driving/implementing new technology to eliminate factory stock processing problems and implement Poke Yoke methods. Improves physical properties of existing compounds using new techniques. Provides technical support for equipment design and new or improved processing equipment. Assembles and analyzes data regarding compound performances. Uses analytical troubleshooting techniques in problem-solving activities. Maintain and improve Quality systems to meet ISO:9001-2015 and internal standards Participate in Internal/External Quality audits. Ensure Processing/Quality performance (KPI) monitoring and reporting (e.g., regarding waste, customer complaints, etc.) in cooperation with plant controlling and production. Participate in or steer local mixing related and cross-functional projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering: Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline
2+ years in a manufacturing environment supporting product introductions, equipment installation, and production/process support.
Strong problem-solving skills
Troubleshooting manufacturing processes
Good writing and verbal communication skills
Good MS Office skills and other engineering software
Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas now or in the future for this job posting.

Nice To Haves

Cross-functional experience e.g. in engineering, quality, supply chain or CBS preferred
Comprehensive experience in Rubber and or Plastic production processes
Troubleshooting rubber compound issues.
Experience in working with international teams on production topics and understanding foreign cultures

Responsibilities

Provide production technical support, quality testing reviews, and troubleshooting of production technical problems.
Coordinate processing, technical, and quality activities of the department.
Responsible for developing rubber technology knowledge, pursuing cost reductions for current products and processes, maintaining quality standards, and providing technical and decision-making support to the operators on the factory floor.
Providing technical customer service; communication with the customer in connection with all technical questions concerning rubber compounds.
Introduce, develop, and look after the recipes to ensure meeting the customer requirements.
Accompany mixing trials and processing trials at the customer.
Responsible for the disposition of non-conforming material according to standards.
Maintains reliable processing, compound, and raw material specifications.
Sets up experimental laboratory and factory evaluation trials in product and process areas.
Maintains technical and quality status reporting requirements.
Serves as a source of chemical awareness and compliance.
Contribute to strategic and operative planning of the Compounding operations unit (e.g., with respect to investments, health and safety, quality and capacity)
Meets daily with mix employees to assess stock and production performance.
Resolves technical problems that arise with stocks, materials, and equipment
Assist in product release strategy and product return process.
Focused efforts on driving/implementing new technology to eliminate factory stock processing problems and implement Poke Yoke methods.
Improves physical properties of existing compounds using new techniques.
Provides technical support for equipment design and new or improved processing equipment.
Assembles and analyzes data regarding compound performances.
Uses analytical troubleshooting techniques in problem-solving activities.
Maintain and improve Quality systems to meet ISO:9001-2015 and internal standards
Participate in Internal/External Quality audits.
Ensure Processing/Quality performance (KPI) monitoring and reporting (e.g., regarding waste, customer complaints, etc.) in cooperation with plant controlling and production.
Participate in or steer local mixing related and cross-functional projects.