Process Engineer

Position Overview

As a Process Engineer, you will play a key role in evaluating, improving, and supporting manufacturing processes within assigned work centers and work cells. Your work will ensure material integrity, processing reliability, and product performance across a range of metals and specialty alloys. This role is highly collaborative, working closely with engineering, operations, and quality teams to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent materials processing.

You will help drive continuous improvement efforts, support root‑cause investigations, and shape material‑related standards across the organization.

On‑site in Jonesborough, Tennessee

• Assess manufacturing processes to understand how material properties, behavior, and processing parameters influence product performance and manufacturability.
• Monitor Quality Notifications and partner with engineers to identify material‑related failure modes, deviations, or property variances, generating next actions to prevent recurrence.
• Evaluate tooling, fixturing, and material‑handling requirements to ensure proper processing, dimensional stability, and material integrity.
• Identify gaps in material specifications, testing requirements, certifications, and supplemental data for work scopes.
• Work directly with operators to assess shift performance and ensure proper handling of material sensitivities such as heat input, deformation, machining behavior, and environmental controls.
• Provide Engineering & Technical Services (E&TS) support to ensure material‑readiness actions are completed.
• Review past work scopes and incorporate lessons learned related to material performance, process‑material interactions, and specification compliance.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to standardize material‑sensitive instructions across product lines for consistent processing.
• Develop supplemental documentation such as material handling guidelines, process windows, setup drawings, and photo instructions.
• Use root‑cause analysis techniques to investigate material‑related defects, recurring nonconformances, microstructural concerns, and process‑driven property variations.
• Interpret complex data sets, identify patterns, and apply statistical reasoning to highlight trends and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on material flow, processing reliability, yield enhancement, and scrap/rework reduction.
• Collaborate with Operations Managers, Engineering Product Teams, and supporting groups to define or reorganize work centers based on material‑processing needs, new materials, or new equipment integration.

• Strong communication skills and an interest in working cross‑functionally with engineering, operations, and quality teams.
• Proficiency with MRP systems and Microsoft Office programs.
• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (Materials Science preferred).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in process engineering, materials engineering, or manufacturing involving critical material requirements.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Security Clearance.

• Experience in manufacturing environments involving metals, specialty alloys, or complex material systems.
• Advanced understanding of material behavior, microstructure, and process/material interactions.
• Master’s degree is a plus.

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work‑life balance (as applicable for the role).
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and continuing education support.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates new perspectives and supports collaboration across generations.
• The opportunity to contribute to mission‑driven work that shapes the future of energy.
• Continuous learning and training opportunities to grow throughout your career.

$76,000 – $119,000

As a federal government contractor, BWX…