Job Description

Job Title: Metallurgical Engineer
Location: East Peoria, IL
Zip Code: 61611
Duration: 12 Months
Pay Rate: $43.33/hr.
Keyword's: #EastPeoriajobs; #MetallurgicalEngineerjobs;
Start Date: Immediate

Job Summary:

Project Execution
* Lead and execute engineering projects from concept through commissioning, startup, and handover
* Develop scope, schedules, budgets, action plans, and risk mitigation plans with clear owners and dates
* Actively coordinate with operations, quality, maintenance, suppliers, and contractors to remove roadblocks and keep work moving
* Support capital project installation, modification, troubleshooting, commissioning, and production ramp-up activities
Manufacturing & Operations Support
* Spend time in the shop understanding equipment, process flow, constraints, safety concerns, and real-world production issues
* Provide hands-on support during trials, troubleshooting, installation, startup, and issue resolution
* Use practical judgment to balance engineering requirements with manufacturing reality, schedule pressure, quality, and safety
* Escalate early when blocked, propose options, and continue driving the issue instead of waiting passively for others
Metallurgical / Mechanical Engineering
* Apply metallurgical principles related to steel, cast iron, alloys, heat treatment, surface treatment, and forming processes
* Support material selection, process qualification, metallurgical validation, and root cause analysis
* Support mechanical systems including equipment layouts, fixtures, piping, quench systems, fluid systems, and plant utilities
* Review drawings, equipment specifications, test results, process data, and supplier recommendations with attention to field execution
Communication & Leadership
* Communicate clearly in person, by phone, and in writing with shop employees, engineers, leaders, suppliers, and contractors
* Drive meetings and follow-ups with clear actions, owners, due dates, decisions, and escalation when needed
* Show professional persistence, curiosity, urgency, and accountability when solving problems
* Be comfortable asking questions, challenging assumptions respectfully, and learning directly from people closest to the work
Basic Qualifications
* Bachelor"s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
* 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing, heavy industry, industrial equipment, or plant engineering environments
* Demonstrated experience working directly with operations, maintenance, quality, suppliers, or contractors to complete real projects
* Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining follow-through, communication, and urgency
* Problem solving is the core qualification of this role.
Preferred / Desired Qualifications
* Experience with heat treat, steel, forging, casting, machining, surface treatment, or similar manufacturing processes
* Experience supporting capital equipment projects, plant installations, equipment moves, troubleshooting, or production launches
* Demonstrated ability to get results when information is incomplete, priorities change, or support from others is delayed
* Strong shop-floor presence and ability to build credibility with technicians, operators, maintenance, and manufacturing leaders
Key Skills & Competencies
* Project management fundamentals (scope, schedule, cost, risk)
* Metallurgical analysis and materials behavior
* Mechanical systems design and evaluation
* Manufacturing process understanding
* Supplier and contractor coordination
* Clear technical communication and documentation
Typical Work Environment
* Manufacturing facilities, labs, and industrial environments
* Combination of office based engineering work and shop floor support
* Occasional travel to suppliers or manufacturing sites*
Story Behind the Need - Business Group & Key Projects
* Position"s Contributions to Work Group
* Team culture
* Surrounding team & key projects
* Purpose of this team
* Reason for the request Position"s Contributions to Work Group:
- Project management

Reason/motivation for request:
- Addition
Typical Day in the Role
* Typical task breakdown and rhythm
* Interaction level with team
* Work environment description Typical task breakdown:
* Start the day by reviewing critical project actions, blocked items, safety concerns, supplier responses, and plant priorities
* Go to the floor, talk directly with operations, maintenance, quality, and technicians, and verify what is actually happening
* Drive active issues by calling, walking over, escalating, or pulling people together instead of only sending emails and waiting
* Analyze metallurgical, mechanical, process, test, drawing, supplier, or equipment data and convert it into practical next steps
* Support project execution including design reviews, supplier coordination, installation planning, schedule updates, and startup support
* Document decisions, owners, dates, open risks, and next steps clearly enough that others can act without guessing
Interaction with team:
* Work alongside a team of engineers and report to the Engineering Manager.
* Must be comfortable working directly with operators, technicians, supervisors, maintenance, quality, suppliers, contractors, and leadership.
* Expected to communicate in person and by phone when needed, not rely only on email or Teams messages.
Work environment:
* Office and non-air-conditioned manufacturing facility
* Regular shop-floor presence required; this is not a desk-only role
* PPE gear required will be supplied
Candidate Requirements
* Years of experience required
* Degrees or certifications required
* Disqualifiers
* Performance indicators Education & Experience Required:
* Bachelor"s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline
* 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing, heavy industry, industrial equipment, capital projects, plant engineering, or similar hands-on environment
* Willing to consider 2-year technical degree with 7+ years of strong, relevant hands-on manufacturing/project execution experience
* Must show examples of personally driving a project, issue, installation, or improvement through obstacles to completion
* Must be comfortable working directly with production, maintenance, quality, suppliers, contractors, and leadership
Technical Skills
(Required)
* Project execution fundamentals: scope, schedule, cost, risk, actions, owners, due dates, escalation, and closure
* Manufacturing process understanding and ability to learn equipment/process details directly from the floor
* Mechanical systems, industrial equipment, fixtures, layouts, utilities, or process equipment experience
* Ability to read drawings, specifications, test data, process data, supplier documents, and convert them into action
* Supplier, contractor, maintenance, and cross-functional coordination
* Clear technical communication and practical documentation
(Desired)
* Heat treat equipment, steel, metallurgy, casting, forging, surface treatment, quench systems, or industrial process equipment experience
Soft Skills
(Required)
* High ownership: drives work to completion without needing constant direction
* Professional persistence: follows up through calls, in-person discussions, escalation, and alternate paths when email is not enough
* Strong interpersonal skills: can build credibility with operators, technicians, maintenance, engineers, suppliers, and leaders
* Practical judgment: understands that manufacturing work requires real-world tradeoffs, urgency, and direct problem solving
* Clear communication: explains status, risks, decisions, and next steps without hiding behind vague updates
* Curiosity and humility: asks good questions, learns from people closest to the work, and verifies assumptions in the actual process