Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer

Springs Window Fashions•Waukegan, IL

4d•$90,000 - $135,000•Onsite

About The Position

Springs Window Fashions is hiring for a Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer – Waukegan, IL (This is an onsite role). Springs Window Fashions is a leader in the custom window treatment industry since 1939. Headquartered in Middleton WI, we have 7,000 associates with locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our custom window treatments are available under the Bali, Graber, SunSetter and Mecho brands in nearly every major retailer, in thousands of designer showrooms, and showcased in large commercial buildings. Our company has made significant investments to become a leader in product innovation. As North America’s premier window covering company, we’re committed to creating a “Best Experience” for our consumers, channel partners and associates. We are bringing new innovations to the market at an accelerated pace and have a variety of offerings to consumers who want to improve their home décor. The Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer is responsible for leading the design, development, optimization, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing and fabrication processes across the organization. This role requires advanced technical expertise, strategic problem-solving capabilities, and specialized knowledge of manufacturing systems, process engineering methodologies, quality systems, automation technologies, and lean manufacturing principles. The associate serves as a key technical leader supporting operational excellence initiatives, new product introductions, process standardization, cost reduction strategies, and manufacturing performance improvements across multiple departments and facilities. The position collaborates closely with operations leadership, product development, quality, supply chain, maintenance, and global manufacturing teams to ensure manufacturing processes meet customer, regulatory, safety, quality, and productivity requirements. The position requires specialized knowledge of the company’s manufacturing systems, operational standards, continuous improvement methodologies, proprietary processes, and multi-site manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for evaluating and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies, leading capital and process improvement projects, developing technical standards, mentoring engineering and production personnel, and driving operational efficiencies through data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement methodologies. This is a first shift, full-time exempt position reporting directly to the Director of US Operations and Continuous Improvement. The role works closely with plant leadership, operations management, engineering teams, and cross-functional stakeholders across multiple manufacturing facilities to support operational strategy, manufacturing standardization, continuous improvement initiatives, and business performance objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering with strong industrial experience as a Process Engineer
5+ years of practical manufacturing and engineering experience in designing and improving manufacturing processes
Capital project management experience required

Nice To Haves

Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma certifications are a plus
Bilingual English - Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing and fabrication processes for new and existing products
Utilize advanced Industrial Engineering and Lean Manufacturing methodologies to improve operational performance, reduce waste, and increase manufacturing efficiency
Conduct detailed work measurement and labor utilization studies utilizing techniques including time studies, work sampling, predetermined motion time systems, ratio-delay studies, video analysis, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) evaluations
Analyze manufacturing workflows and determine optimal process methods to improve safety, quality, throughput, ergonomics, and cost performance
Design, develop, validate, and implement manufacturing fixtures, tooling, equipment modifications, and process controls to support operational improvements
Lead cross-functional manufacturing improvement initiatives involving engineering, operations, quality, maintenance, and supply chain teams
Support automation initiatives and integration of advanced manufacturing technologies to improve productivity and process stability
Manage multiple capital equipment and process improvement projects from concept through implementation, validation, and operational launch
Support global manufacturing standardization efforts and replication of best practices across facilities
Lead root cause analysis investigations and corrective action activities related to manufacturing, process, and quality issues
Utilize quality and process improvement methodologies including PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, DOE, 8D, Six Sigma, Fishbone Analysis, and Lean tools
Monitor process capability, process variation, and manufacturing performance metrics to ensure process stability and compliance
Develop and implement process controls and quality assurance systems to minimize defects, scrap, rework, and customer quality concerns
Provide advanced technical support to manufacturing, production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to resolve complex operational challenges
Train and mentor engineering, supervisory, and production personnel on manufacturing processes, quality systems, lean principles, and process improvement methodologies
Develop and maintain manufacturing process specifications, process routings, engineering standards, and technical documentation
Establish standardized manufacturing practices to ensure product consistency, repeatability, quality, and compliance
Determine optimal process flow and manufacturing routing to maximize operational efficiency while minimizing manufacturing cost and waste
Create and maintain Standard Practice Instructions (SPIs), work instructions, process validation documents, and operational standards
Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new product launches and engineering changes
Collaborate with product development teams to determine optimal manufacturing processes, tooling requirements, process flow, and validation strategies
Support process validation, pilot builds, trial runs, and launch activities to ensure manufacturability and operational readiness
Coordinate equipment evaluations, production trials, and capability studies for new manufacturing technologies and processes
Develop and optimize manufacturing layouts utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles including one-piece flow, cellular manufacturing, value stream mapping, Kanban systems, setup reduction, and waste elimination
Lead manufacturing layout improvement projects to improve productivity, material flow, safety, and space utilization
Support plant operational excellence and Factory of the Future initiatives through process innovation and advanced manufacturing concepts
Lead strategic continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations to improve productivity, quality, labor efficiency, and operational performance
Support operational alignment and standardization initiatives across multiple U.S. manufacturing facilities
Serve as a key technical resource for manufacturing strategy, process optimization, and operational excellence initiatives
Collaborate with senior leadership on manufacturing performance reviews, capacity planning, cost reduction strategies, and continuous improvement roadmaps
Drive implementation of lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives aligned with corporate objectives
Mentor junior engineers, technicians, and production personnel in manufacturing engineering principles and best practices
Analyze production, labor, efficiency, and quality data to identify improvement opportunities and support business objectives
Integrates quality-at-the-source principles into all manufacturing and engineering activities
Applies structured problem-solving methodologies and continuous improvement tools in daily operations
Develops, documents, standardizes, and improves manufacturing processes within assigned areas of responsibility
Identifies operational waste, inefficiencies, and process variation and implements sustainable corrective actions
Supports a culture of operational excellence, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement