Job Summary
The Manufacturing Engineer drives thermal process development for new and existing product, and supports engineering initiatives to improve product quality, process efficiency, and department productivity.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Proactively support a culture of safety and quality as top organizational priorities
- Lead development of ceramic thermal processes, both in new and existing materials/processes, utilizing DOE, profile development, and lab analysis
- Drive process improvements affecting yields, capacity, cycle times, and cost
- Develop standardization in kiln department, which may include job instructions, production control boards, noncompliance procedures, etc.
- Contribute to the identification, justification, and implementation of capital equipment and engineering projects to support manufacturing objectives
- Optimize machine and material process parameters based on LEAN principles, DOE, statistical analysis, and materials science
- Work closely with production personnel in process tracking, optimization, and troubleshooting
- Provide technical support to resolve manufacturing disruptions, then develop and implement permanent, sustainable countermeasures to prevent reoccurrence
- Develop and deliver training materials in areas identified that require increased organizational awareness and/or functional knowledge
- Manage the selection, performance monitoring, and ordering of refractory materials
- Advise, train and support maintenance teams on best known methods, stocking levels, and components required for quick repairs and preventative maintenance
- Interface with vendors and contracted support expertise to ensure kilns are maintained and meet thermal deliverables
- Learn and stay current with applicable kiln hardware, including combustion and electric kilns, and their subcomponents
- Identify and address areas where additional process controls and/or detection methods of hardware failures are necessary
- Interface with commercial team to assist customers in production build programs
- After hours on-call support as required
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Materials Science, Chemical, or Ceramic Engineering
- 5 years of electronics and/or combustion equipment experience
- Process engineering and design
- Experience operating production and laboratory equipment such as furnaces, ovens, programmable controllers, materials characterization equipment, etc.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and troubleshooting skills
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to work independently and in small groups
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Thermal processing/sintering; firing cycle design
- Experience with PID/PLC controllers
- Working knowledge of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, or equivalent software
- Combustion kiln experience
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is normally performed on site at STC’s office in St. Albans, Vermont. Office work is performed in a climate-controlled office environment, but substantial time on the shop floor is required, which can be noisy and dusty, as well as hot during the summer. Proper safety equipment is provided by STC where necessary.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work may involve standing and walking for moderate to lengthy periods of time, with some duties performed from a seated position. There is potential for eyestrain from reading detailed materials and computer screen. Deadlines, workloads during peak periods, and changing priorities may cause increased stress levels. Work may include bending and squatting, as well as occasional lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 lbs, or pushing/pulling carts loaded with up to 500 lbs.
Superior Technical Ceramics Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and offers employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, color, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.
