Senior Process Engineer

Smart4

Sciences are recruiting for a Senior Process Engineer for a leading aerospace manufacturing organisation based in the Greater Los Angeles area, specialising in aerospace windows, plastics and glass manufacturing.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Process Engineer to take ownership of manufacturing process capability, performance and continuous improvement within a specialist aerospace manufacturing environment. You will play a key role in developing, validating and optimising manufacturing processes, ensuring consistent product quality, improved efficiency and reduced process variation.

Working closely with Operations, Quality and Engineering teams, you'll drive technical improvements across the manufacturing lifecycle, supporting new product introduction, process development and the implementation of advanced manufacturing solutions.

• Own and improve manufacturing process capability through statistical analysis, process modelling and performance monitoring.
• Develop and maintain process control plans, specifications, procedures and work instructions to ensure consistent manufacturing performance.
• Monitor process data using statistical methods, including SPC, Cp/Cpk and trend analysis, identifying opportunities to reduce variation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, cycle times and manufacturing costs.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma methodologies, including DMAIC, FMEA and Design of Experiments (DOE), to improve process performance.
• Lead the development and implementation of tooling, jigs, fixtures and process aids to improve manufacturing capability.
• Identify opportunities for automation and process optimisation, supporting capital projects and equipment integration.
• Support new product introduction by defining manufacturing requirements and validating production processes.
• Lead technical investigations, corrective actions and root cause analysis to resolve manufacturing issues and prevent recurrence.
• Maintain process documentation and manage engineering changes to ensure robust and repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Quality and Engineering to improve production performance and product quality.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or a related STEM discipline.
• Minimum 7 years' experience in Process Engineering and/or Manufacturing Engineering within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of process capability, statistical process control (SPC), Cp/Cpk and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification strongly preferred.
• Mechanical Engineering background would be advantageous.
• Experience with in aerospace manufacturing, plastics, glass manufacturing, aerospace windows or specialist materials would be particularly relevant.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes involving plastics, acrylics, polycarbonate, composites or glass would be beneficial.
• Experience with FMEA, DOE, process validation and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to interpret manufacturing drawings and translate design requirements into repeatable production processes.
• Experience with CAD software such as Solid Works or CATIA would be advantageous.
• Exposure to tooling and fixture design, CNC machining, automation, robotics or PLC-controlled equipment would be beneficial.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.

$110,000–$135,000 base salary + annual bonus potential of up to 7%.

• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Disability and leave benefits.
• Additional voluntary benefits.
• Opportunity to join a specialist aerospace manufacturing environment.
• The chance to take ownership of process improvement, manufacturing capability and advanced materials projects.

Please note: This is a fully onsite position in the Greater Los Angeles area. Applicants must be US citizens, Green Card holders, or eligible political asylees or refugees.

If you're an experienced Senior Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer or Mechanical Engineer with a strong background in process improvement and Lean Six Sigma, and you're interested in working within specialist aerospace plastics and glass manufacturing, I'd be interested in speaking with you.