Production Engineer - Manufacturing Operations

Arrow Specialties USA, LLC•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Engineer is the technical owner for day-to-day performance of an assigned manufacturing area at Arclin’s Spruance Manufacturing Plant in Richmond, Virginia. The role works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Process Safety, Quality, Supply Chain and other site resources to run the plant safely, reliably and at the lowest sustainable cost. The engineer uses process knowledge, data analysis and structured problem solving to resolve operating issues, protect product quality, improve asset utilization and translate the business plan into an executable daily operating plan. During abnormal events, the engineer provides urgent technical leadership and drives corrective and preventive actions. The position owns unit performance and field engagement; reviews operating logs, alarms, trends and KPIs; and helps ensure operations comply with approved limits, environmental permits and process safety requirements. It also uses process data, automation and manufacturing technology to improve throughput, quality, yield, energy use, conversion cost and asset utilization, while connecting operating decisions to margin and EBITDA. The Production Engineer leads troubleshooting of process, equipment and control-system issues, supports root cause analysis, works with Maintenance and Reliability to improve equipment availability, and develops plans for process, controls and equipment improvements. The role collaborates with Operations, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety, Process Safety, Engineering and project teams to set operating priorities, manage changes and protect compliance. Success is reflected in safe, compliant and reliable operations, actively managed production and cost KPIs, sustainable resolution of losses, and trusted technical partnership with operators and other functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical or another relevant engineering discipline.
Zero to five years of manufacturing, process engineering, operations or related experience.
Ability to apply engineering fundamentals, process data and sound judgment to solve operating problems and make risk-informed decisions.
Ability to analyze trends and large data sets using process historians, control-system information and Microsoft 365 tools, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Understanding of process control, alarms, interlocks and automation as tools for safe, stable and optimized operation.
Ability to use structured problem-solving methods such as root cause analysis, 5-Why analysis, cause-and-effect analysis and statistical process control.
Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to operators, leaders, maintenance personnel and other stakeholders.
Ability to organize multiple priorities, respond effectively under pressure and maintain accurate technical documentation.
Financial acumen to connect operating decisions to yield, cost, margin, working capital and EBITDA.

Nice To Haves

Plant or industrial internship or co-op experience.
Experience in a Process Safety Management (PSM) or other regulated manufacturing environment.
Paper making industry experience.
Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience.

Responsibilities

Own the technical performance of the assigned operating area and maintain a visible presence in the field.
Review operating logs, alarms, trends and KPIs to identify emerging risks and performance gaps.
Partner with operators and technical resources to reinforce operating discipline, procedure use and understanding of critical operating steps and precautions.
Respond to plant issues and emergencies, provide unit-level technical expertise, and support safe stabilization and recovery.
Ensure operations remain within approved operating limits, environmental permits and applicable process safety requirements.
Use process data, automation and manufacturing technology to optimize throughput, quality, yield, energy use, conversion cost and asset utilization.
Identify operating actions that improve margin and EBITDA by understanding production schedules, constraints, variable costs and value drivers.
Diagnose and document root causes of production losses, quality deviations, waste generation and raw material inefficiency.
Establish practical metrics and management systems to engage Operations, Maintenance and technical teams in performance improvement.
Apply continuous improvement methods and sustain gains through standard work, controls and operating discipline.
Lead structured troubleshooting of process, equipment and control-system problems using data, field observations and subject matter expertise.
Facilitate or support root cause analysis and translate findings into corrective and preventive actions with owners and due dates.
Partner with Maintenance and Reliability to prioritize defects, define technical requirements and improve equipment availability.
Evaluate process, controls and equipment improvement opportunities and develop their technical basis, benefits, risks and implementation plans.
Capture learning in procedures, operating envelopes, training materials, technical documentation and knowledge-sharing forums.
Work with Operations to determine production capability and near-term operating priorities.
Partner with Supply Chain and Production Planning to optimize schedules around customer needs, inventory, constraints and maintenance work.
Convert the business plan into a daily operating plan and communicate priorities, risks and expected performance to stakeholders.
Coordinate with Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety, Process Safety, Engineering and project resources to manage changes and protect compliance.
Build trust through technical credibility, clear communication, active listening, accountability and timely follow-through.