Process Engineering Manager

Position Summary

The Processing Engineer is responsible for optimizing and supporting all plastics processing operations related to reheat and blow and stretch blow molding for high‑quality food grade bottles. This role develops robust process parameters, improves productivity and efficiency, ensures compliance with quality and regulatory standards, and provides technical leadership during production, trials, and new product introductions.

• Process Development & Optimization:
  
  Develop, implement, and maintain optimal processing parameters for RHB and SBM equipment. Assess and improve cycle times, material utilization, energy consumption, and overall production efficiency. Lead root‑cause troubleshooting efforts for process‑related issues such as material distribution, haze, stress cracking, dimensional variation, or weight variation.
• Technical Support & Troubleshooting:
  
  Provide day‑to‑day technical support to production teams to ensure stable and efficient operations. Conduct in‑depth analysis of process deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions. Support blow molding machine startups, material changes, mold changes, and new tooling qualification.
• Quality & Compliance:
  
  Ensure all processes meet rigorous food‑and pharma‑grade requirements including GMP, cGMP, FDA, and internal quality standards. Collaborate with Quality Assurance to resolve nonconformances and enhance product consistency. Maintain accurate and compliant process documentation, including validation protocols, setup sheets, and process parameters.
• Tooling & Equipment:
  
  Work closely with tooling, maintenance, and engineering teams to optimize mold performance, cooling efficiency, preform handling, and blow configurations. Assist in qualification, installation, and optimization of molds, tooling, and auxiliary equipment. Recommend equipment upgrades or process enhancements to improve capability and reliability.
• Continuous Improvement & Projects:
  
  Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, DOE, SPC). Drive cost‑saving initiatives through improved yields, reduced scrap, and enhanced line performance. Participate in new product development, ensuring manufacturability and smooth scale‑up from pilot to full production.
• Training & Documentation:
  
  Train operators and technicians on best practices, processing standards, and safe machine operation. Develop and maintain SOPs, setup guides, and process control documents. Promote a culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence.

• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field. (or equivalent experience)
• 2–5 years of experience in plastics processing, specifically reheat & blow or stretch blow molding.
• Strong understanding of PET processing, blow molding principles, and material behavior.
• Experience working in food‑or pharmaceutical‑grade manufacturing environments.
• Solid problem‑solving skills using structured methodologies (RCA, DMAIC, DOE).
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and process validation.

• Preferred:
  Experience with leading RHB/SBM platforms (e.g., Sidel, Krones, KHS, SIG, Aoki).
• Familiarity with regulatory standards such as FDA 21 CFR, HACCP, SQF, or ISO 22000.
• Working knowledge of preform design, mold design, and bottle performance testing.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification.
• Proficiency with CAD, data‑analysis tools, or process‑monitoring systems.

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capability
• Process discipline and attention to detail
• Technical expertise in PET processing and blow molding technologies
• Effective communication and cross‑functional collaboration
• Leadership in driving continuous improvement
• Ability to…