What are the responsibilities and job description for the Process Engineer - Plastics or Rubber position at Food Management Search?
Process Engineer – Plastics or Rubber
Location: Akron, OH (Local candidates preferred; conservative relocation assistance available for qualified talent)
Compensation: Competitive Salary Bonus Potential Profit Sharing 401(k) Comprehensive Benefits
Schedule: Steady ~45-hour workweek with minimal weekends and zero on-call burnout
Drive Innovation. Own the Floor. Accelerate Your Impact.
Are you a hands-on engineer who thrives in an active manufacturing environment rather than sitting behind a desk all day? We are seeking a Process Engineer – Rubber or Plastics to serve as a key technical leader in our high-tech molding operations.
In this high-visibility role, you’ll work in an environment boasting a recent $3.5M investment in state-of-the-art molding equipment and advanced automated systems. You’ll enjoy direct daily access to our on-site President, a predictable non-automotive product line, and true ownership over process optimization—all backed by an exceptional work-life balance and zero corporate red tape.
Why Engineers Choose This Opportunity:
- 🤖 Advanced Automation Environment: Drive hands-on technical innovation following a $3.5M capital upgrade in new molding machines and automation.
- 🛠️ 80% Hands-On Floor Time: Maximize your engineering impact where it matters most—troubleshooting, optimizing lines, and solving complex physical challenges on the shop floor.
- ⚖️ True Work-Life Balance: Protect your personal time with a predictable, average 45-hour workweek and virtually no weekend shifts or on-call demands.
- 🏢 Non-Automotive Stability: Enjoy a stable, predictable product line and exceptional team tenure outside the volatile automotive sector.
- 📈 Direct Access & Fast Decisions: Collaborate daily with our on-site President to get capital projects and process ideas fast-tracked without waiting for corporate approvals.
- 💰 Comprehensive Rewards: Profit sharing, annual bonus potential, 401(k), full healthcare coverage, short/long-term disability, paid holidays/vacation, and life insurance.
The Role
Reporting directly to the President, you will oversee support production and execute diverse engineering initiatives in a fast-paced injection molding facility.
Daily Responsibilities:
- Support production lines while increasing efficiencies and decreasing scrap
- Complete projects related to root cause analysis and troubleshooting downtime
- Utilize 2D and 3D modeling to improve line layouts and design fixtures and gauges
- Assist with new product activities, documentation and project management
- Troubleshoot mechanical and basic electrical issues
- Communicate with operations and production associates to improve KPIs and production initiatives
- Work to improve current engineering designs
- Assist with creating work instructions and other manufacturing documentation
- Complete tooling troubleshooting and work with external tool shops
- Support automation improvements
- Initiate cost justification on new projects and equipment
- If not immediately, in the future overseeing capital equipment projects, including monitoring timelines and budgets
- Other duties directed by engineering management
What We Are Looking For
This is a 100% hands-on technical position where you will spend up to 80% of your day on the manufacturing floor. We need a proactive, flexible problem-solver who can take complete ownership of projects, handle changing priorities, and maintain a positive, team-first attitude under pressure.
Requirements:
- A minimum of an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree in a technical field, ideally Mechanical Engineering, is highly preferred
- At least 2–5 years of similar manufacturing and/or process engineering experience
- Experience working in plastic or rubber injection, blow or compression molding
- Strong continuous improvement background
- Project management of timelines
- Strong mechanical aptitude
- Experience improving part designs
- 2D/3D modeling experience
- Microsoft Office, including Excel
Preferred Qualifications (Not Required):
- PLCs and automation
- Tooling design review
- Budget management
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