Industrial Equipment Engineer/Senior Materials Engineer

Position Summary

The purpose of this role is to develop new processes and new permanent magnet material grades and continuously improve existing processes at the Material Technology Center (MTC), using an engineering approach offering solutions that increase safety, cost effectiveness, production yields, and solutions that address manufacturing inefficiencies. 

Major Responsibilities:

Safety

Employee Leadership and Coordination

Configuration Management

• • In collaboration with Quality, elaborate documentation and control of process configurations, ensuring accuracy of all engineering documentation.
  • Collaborate with Operations to make sure that all processes have up to date Work Instructions and pFMEA’s.
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing Planner and Operations to create and/or revise manufacturing methods and BOM’s to ensure successful execution in manufacturing.

New Process Technology 

• • Research and evaluate new manufacturing technologies to enhance magnet production capabilities.

• • Create pFMEAs and work instructions for new processes, for Quality approval.
  • Develop plans for the integration of new technologies into existing manufacturing systems, ensuring minimal disruption to production. 

Continuous Improvement

• • Monitor process performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
  • Develop processes to improve cost, throughput and quality.
  • Stay updated with the latest advancements in materials science and magnetic technologies.

New Material Development

• • Develop and optimize formulations for samarium-cobalt magnetic material.

• • Research and evaluate manufacturing technologies to develop new magnet grades.
  • Conduct microstructure, magnetic, mechanical, thermodynamic analysis using available equipment on site, at other locations, or outsource the testing to qualified labs.
  • Utilize or acquire analytical equipment necessary to assess the performance of the newly developed material. 

Production Support

• • Oversee the melt, mill, powder, press, and sintering processes to ensure high-quality magnet production from engineering standpoint.

• • Provide real-time technical support to production teams, helping to troubleshoot and resolve process-related issues.
  • Advise schedulers / material controllers on the selection of appropriate materials for various production jobs as needed.

Customer Support

• • Interface with customers to understand their material requirements and provide technical guidance on product manufacturability.

• • Recommend improvements to customers’ material design for manufacturability and performance by presenting data, calculations to support the recommendations.
  • Contribute to the Business Development Group by providing estimated labor and, if needed, costs for manufacturing lead-time.

Technical Leadership 

• • Lead in promoting the technical expertise of the company through the creation of technical papers and articles for public dissemination.
  • Promote the Company’s expertise in permanent magnets to the scientific and business communities.  
  • Assist in the training and technical development of colleagues in other functions.

 Qualifications

•  Required at minimum BS in Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or Physics.
• Minimum 5 years’ work experience.
• High level expertise in Material Science, Powder Metallurgy principles, Material Testing and Failure Analysis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project tracking tools (e.g., MS Project, Celoxis)

 Successful Essential Skills

•  Able to clearly and succinctly send a message in a variety of communication settings and styles.
• Excellent problem solving skills: uses rigorous logic and methods to solve problems producing effective solutions to problem statements.
• Excellent time management skills: concentrating effort on priorities and overall planning, awareness and response to what is due now, short and long term.

 Successful Essential Behaviors

•  Ethical practice - adheres to the Company’s Mission, Vision, Values and Culture during both good and bad times. Adheres to policy, procedure and complies with regulatory bodies and the law.  Actively and positively acknowledges employees demonstrating the right values and works to guide misses of others in the right direction.
• Action oriented.
• Heightened sense of urgency and works at a quick pace (high energy).  Can be counted on to meet and exceed goals successfully.  
• Attention to detail: focus on accuracy, completeness and following standards, rules, regulations, and requirements.
• Cooperative with others and helpful to the rest of the team in getting work done.
• Exhibits integrity as a person and in their work. Maintains appropriate confidentiality at work.
• Personally committed to and actively works to continuously improve his/her work skills.
• Has a can do, will do attitude.

 Work Environment and Physical Demands

•  Works in both office and production environments, protective foot and eyewear required.
• Occasional, long workdays and weekends are necessary to fulfill job requirements.
• Some minimal < 10% overnight travel required. Must be able to drive a car and be insured.
• Approximately 25% sitting; 35% standing, 10% stooping and bending; and 30% walking.
• Lift and transport an average weight of 5 lbs., maximum 50 lbs.