Process Engineer

Salary:

FUCHS offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $75,000 to $85,000 per year, but actual salary will vary depending upon a new hire’s experience and qualifications as well as internal equity.

Your Responsibilities:

The Process Engineer I is a hands-on manufacturing engineering position responsible for working directly with R&D, Process Engineering, Planning and Manufacturing to improve the safety, consistency, quality, throughput, and efficiency of our specialty lubricant and compound manufacturing processes. This role requires significant time on the manufacturing floor and is not intended to be a primarily desk-based or new-graduate position.

Responsibilities will include:

• Provide hands-on, day-to-day engineering support on the manufacturing floor for batch processing, mixing, heating, cooling, material addition, transfer, filtration, filling, packaging, and related manufacturing operations.
• Observe production processes firsthand, talk with operators and technicians, collect process data, review batch records, and identify abnormalities, recurring issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Troubleshoot day-to-day production problems involving process deviations, extended cycle times, quality issues, yield losses, rework, and equipment/process interactions, working directly with Operations and cross-functional teams.
• Support and execute engineering, R&D, commercialization, and scale-up batches, including pre-batch planning, direct floor observation, data collection, documentation of results, and post-batch analysis.
• Collect and analyze process data such as temperature profiles, mixing times, material-addition sequences, processing times, yields, cycle times, equipment conditions, and other relevant operating parameters.
• Execute defined continuous-improvement activities focused on reducing cycle time, process variability, waste, rework, manufacturing delays, and unnecessary manual effort while improving first-pass yield and throughput.
• Support root cause investigations, deviations, CAPA, nonconformances, and recurring manufacturing issues using structured problem-solving methods and data-based analysis.
• Support evaluation and optimization of mixers, tanks, pumps, piping, heating and cooling systems, filtration, material transfer, and other process equipment in partnership with Maintenance and Equipment Engineering.
• Support scale-up and commercialization of new products, raw materials, process changes, and manufacturing methods from laboratory or pilot scale into full production.
• Support engineering trials, capability assessments, IQ/OQ/PQ activities, and qualification of new equipment, process changes, and manufacturing methods.
• Develop and update batch instructions, SOPs, work instructions, process specifications, technical reports, trial summaries, and other controlled engineering documentation.
• Prepare and update PFDs and P&IDs, support Engineering Change Orders, and maintain accurate, timely, traceable engineering records.
• Independently own defined manufacturing and process issues through investigation, data collection, analysis, recommendation, implementation, documentation, and follow-up without continual reminders.
• Support major site and business-growth initiatives including new product introductions,  site integration, acquisitions, capacity expansion, and other manufacturing programs.

Qualifications we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.

• Minimum 2 years of direct, relevant, full-time engineering experience in a manufacturing or industrial process environment; 3-5 years preferred. Internship, co-op, or academic project experience alone does not satisfy this requirement.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience working in or directly supporting manufacturing operations, including production troubleshooting, batch support, engineering trials, process improvement, process development, or commercialization.
• Ability and willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor, work directly with operators and technicians, collect data firsthand, and independently execute defined engineering assignments.
• Working knowledge of batch-process equipment including mixers, tanks, pumps, piping, instrumentation, heat-transfer systems, filtration, and material-transfer systems, with the ability to read P&IDs and process documentation.
• Strong problem-solving, data-analysis, communication, documentation, ownership, and follow-through skills, with the ability to develop practical recommendations and know when to escalate significant technical, quality, safety, or business risks.
• Experience with root cause analysis, CAPA, Lean or Six Sigma, DOE, FMEA, SPC, process capability, qualification or validation, or ISO systems is a plus.
• Travel:  Approximately 15% travel can be expeted between regional sites if called upon.

These are your benefits:

Fuchs offers a challenging and rewarding working environment where employees are encouraged to develop and grow as professionals.  In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that will expand your experience and challenge your abilities in the global marketplace.  The position also offers an excellent compensation package and a comprehensive suite of benefits. 

Fuchs Lubricants Co. is an equal employment opportunity (EEO)/AA employer and strongly supports diversity in the workplace (m/f/d/v