Process Engineering Lead

Job Title:

Process Engineering Manager

Job Description

The Process Engineering Manager provides overall technical leadership, performance oversight, and strategic direction for production processes and the process engineering team within a continuous manufacturing environment. This role focuses on ensuring process stability, high efficiency, and superior product quality for continuous reinforced composite materials. The manager leads and develops a team of Process Engineers, drives process improvement and new product integration, and executes capital upgrades.

This is a hands-on leadership position that combines deep technical expertise with people leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making using RCCA, Lean Six Sigma, and other methodologies to support long-term business growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

+ Lead and manage all process engineering activities across manufacturing operations, including process control, optimization, scrap reduction, and throughput improvements.

+ Oversee technical ownership of production processes to maximize uptime, efficiency, and product quality.

+ Mentor, coach, and develop a team of Process Engineers, providing technical leadership and career guidance.

+ Review and guide the technical work of Process Engineers, including troubleshooting and root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities.

+ Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for complex process issues, particularly within impregnation and batch mixing processes.

+ Establish, monitor, and improve key process performance metrics related to quality, yield, waste, and overall efficiency.

+ Lead cross-functional initiatives with Manufacturing, Maintenance, R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain to achieve operational goals.

+ Own and execute capital projects, process upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives from concept through implementation.

+ Support customer audits, qualifications, and technical reviews by representing process engineering leadership and providing technical insight.

+ Define, standardize, and maintain process documentation, including work instructions, control plans, and manufacturing methods in compliance with AS9100 or equivalent standards.

+ Ensure proper implementation and ongoing use of SPC/SQC, FMEA, and statistical tools to maintain robust process control.

+ Drive safety, environmental, and compliance initiatives related to manufacturing processes and equipment.

+ Manage multiple projects simultaneously while aligning team priorities with overall business objectives.

+ Develop and maintain manufacturing systems such as bills of materials (BOMs), routers, and ERP integrations (including D365 or similar platforms).

+ Lead new product introduction (NPI) efforts and ensure a smooth transition from development into full-scale production.

+ Set priorities, assign work, and ensure accountability across the process engineering team.

+ Drive team performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as yield improvement, scrap reduction, and equipment uptime.

+ Support the hiring, training, and ongoing development of Process Engineering staff.

+ Provide clear communication and regular updates to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders on process performance, risks, and improvement plans.

Essential Skills

+ Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

+ 5+ years of experience in composite materials or aerospace manufacturing.

+ Hands-on experience with composite manufacturing processes, including thermoset or thermoplastic systems.

+ Demonstrated experience leading and overseeing a team of Process Engineers in a production environment.

+ Proven ability to review and guide the technical work of Process Engineers, including troubleshooting and RCCA efforts.

+ Deep understanding of process control, statistical analysis, root cause and corrective action (RCCA), and failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA).

+ Strong experience with statistical process control and statistical quality control (SPC/SQC) and manufacturing data analysis.

+

Experience with ERP systems such as Microsoft…