Process Piping Engineer

Process Piping Engineer — Pipe Fitting Manufacturing

Location: Goodyear / Phoenix, Arizona or Buffalo, NY

Department: Engineering

FLSA Status: Exempt

About GTI

GTI Fabrication designs and manufactures custom modular enclosures, energy systems, and industrial structures for energy, defense, and heavy-industrial markets. As GTI scales production and expands our product portfolio, the alignment between current & future customer demand and operational capacity has become critical to our long-term success.

Role Summary

The Process Piping Engineer is responsible for the engineering, design, and process development of pipe fitting manufacturing operations. This role supports new product introduction (NPI) from concept through production launch, ensuring manufacturing processes meet quality, throughput, cost, safety, and code compliance targets. The engineer partners closely with product engineering, quality, tooling, supply chain, production, and customer technical teams to bring new pipe fitting products to market and drive continuous improvement in existing manufacturing lines.

Core Responsibilities

Process Engineering & NPI Support

Develop and own manufacturing process designs for pipe fitting production, including forming, machining, joining, casting/forging interfaces, surface treatment, and assembly operations. Define process flows, routings, and work instructions from prototype through production readiness. Support design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews, identifying opportunities to reduce complexity, material waste, cycle time, and cost. Define and document process assumptions, operating windows, tooling requirements, and acceptance criteria for new fitting designs.

Specifications & Standards

Author and maintain process specifications covering materials, forming and joining methods, surface treatment, cleaning, coating, marking, and inspection criteria for pipe fittings. Select materials and manufacturing methods appropriate to product requirements (e.g., carbon steel, stainless, copper alloys, HDPE; forged, cast, machined, grooved, threaded, flanged), balancing performance, manufacturability, and lifecycle cost. Ensure compliance with applicable product and manufacturing standards (e.g., ASME B16 series, MSS SP standards, ASTM material specs, applicable OSHA/shop safety requirements) and coordinate with customers and third-party agencies on qualification and certification requirements.

Integration & Delivery

Coordinate cross-functionally with product engineers, quality, tooling and fixturing, supply chain, and production supervisors to ensure process intent is realized on the shop floor. Support procurement by developing BOMs, tooling and equipment requirements, RFQ packages, and technical evaluations of supplier proposals. Drive process design reviews (concept, pilot, pre-production, production release), resolve NCRs and process deviations, and manage process-related changes during ramp.

Quality, Risk, and Production Launch Support

Define QA/QC requirements including in-process inspection checkpoints, dimensional verification, pressure/leak test requirements, surface and cleanliness standards, and first article inspection (FAI) criteria. Support production launch by developing or reviewing process FMEAs, control plans, operator work instructions, and pre-production build checklists. Participate in root-cause investigations for manufacturing escapes (dimensional non-conformance, leaks, surface defects, tooling failures) and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Continuous Improvement

Standardize and modularize manufacturing processes to improve repeatability, speed to launch, and cost competitiveness. Capture lessons learned from NPI programs and update process standards, specifications, and design tools accordingly. Identify and drive capital and tooling investments that improve throughput, quality, or safety.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5 years of process or manufacturing engineering experience, with significant exposure to pipe fitting, valve, or related metal component manufacturing. 
• Proficiency developing process flows, work instructions, tooling specifications, and inspection criteria. 
• Demonstrated ability to support new product launches from prototype through production readiness. 
• Working knowledge of relevant product standards and industry practices for pipe fittings and pressure-retaining components.

Preferred

• Experience with pipe fitting manufacturing processes (forging, casting, CNC machining, threading, grooving, end-facing). 
• Familiarity with ASME B16 series, MSS SP standards, and ASTM material requirements for fittings. 
• Experience with GD&T, CMM inspection, and first article inspection processes. 
• Exposure to lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving methodologies. 
• PE license or path toward licensure.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong fundamentals in manufacturing processes, materials, and metrology. 
• Practical, floor-oriented understanding of tooling, fixturing, and trade/operator sequencing. 
• Ability to manage multiple NPI programs simultaneously and drive closure on open technical items. 
• Clear technical communication with production teams, suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders. 
• Detail-oriented with strong judgment on process risk and product quality.

Typical Deliverables

• Process flow diagrams and manufacturing routings. 
• Tooling and fixturing specifications and procurement packages. 
• Process FMEAs, control plans, and operator work instructions. 
• Material and process specifications, inspection and test standards. 
• NPI milestone reviews, production readiness assessments. 
• NCR disposition, RCA documentation, and corrective action plans. 
• Lessons learned and process standard updates.