The Process Engineer supports the operations, quality, maintenance, and engineering teams by driving process optimization, troubleshooting manufacturing issues, improving equipment and process performance, and leading continuous improvement initiatives across plastics manufacturing operations. This role is intended for individuals with a strong understanding of plastics manufacturing processes, automation systems, data analysis, and problem-solving methodologies who can effectively lead technical projects in a fast-paced, complex production environment.
This position reports to the Plastics Engineering Manager and is part of the Plastics Manufacturing Engineering Team located in Indianapolis, IN and will be an on-site role.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Develop, optimize, and sustain injection molding, blow molding, automation, and secondary manufacturing processes to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
- Troubleshoot process, equipment, tooling, material, and automation-related issues using structured problem-solving methodologies, while leveraging manufacturing data and statistical analysis tools to improve process capability, reduce scrap, increase yield, and maximize overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Lead root cause investigations for quality defects, process deviations, equipment-related issues, and customer complaints.
- Drive corrective and preventive actions, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational excellence efforts focused on cycle time reduction, waste elimination, labor efficiency, capacity expansion, and cost reduction.
- Support the full lifecycle of manufacturing equipment and processes, including validation, qualification, installation, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities.
- Partner with operations, maintenance, quality, supply chain, equipment suppliers, mold manufacturers, and automation integrators to establish process standards, support new product introductions and engineering changes, and ensure long-term manufacturing performance and reliability.
The essential requirements of the job include:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Process, Industrial, Plastics, or related field) with 3+ years of manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or plastics processing experience, including demonstrated success troubleshooting and optimizing manufacturing processes in a high-volume production environment.
- Strong understanding of process engineering principles, statistical analysis, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5-Why, Fishbone Analysis, DOE, SPC, and FMEA, with the ability to analyze complex technical problems and implement practical, data-driven solutions.
- Experience working with manufacturing automation, process controls, data collection systems, and industrial equipment, combined with strong project management, organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills to effectively manage multiple priorities and drive business results.
Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements:
- Ability to lift, move or carry equipment up to 50 lbs, any other physical requirements
It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:
- Experience with plastics manufacturing processes, including injection molding, blow molding, mold qualification, automation systems, robotics, vision inspection systems, and material handling systems.
- Experience supporting regulated manufacturing environments through process validation, IQ/OQ/PQ execution, equipment qualification, CAPA investigations, nonconformance investigations, and the use of MES, SCADA, ERP, industrial networking, data analytics, and statistical software tools.
- Demonstrated success leading OEE improvement initiatives, process capability studies, cycle time optimization, scrap reduction, cost savings projects, equipment installations, automation integration, manufacturing expansions, and new product introductions.
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at .
Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.
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