Process Engineer

Process Engineer | Amsted Rail – Petersburg, VA | Bearings Division | Forge Engineering

Pay Range: $85K to $105K| Reports To: Lead Engineer | Schedule: Days

Amsted Rail Company, a global leader in freight rail solutions and an Amsted Industries business, is a 100% employee-owned company. Amsted Rail Petersburg is a global leader in tapered roller bearings and precision sealing solutions. We offer stability, growth, and the opportunity to make a real impact on our industries and communities. As part of one of the top employee-owned companies in the U.S., team members benefit directly from our success through annual stock awards, competitive pay, and strong benefits.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Process Engineer, you will be responsible for improving manufacturing processes, equipment performance, and product quality within assigned production areas. This role will be assigned to the forging department, and provides technical leadership and engineering support to manufacturing, maintenance, quality, and operations teams to improve safety, reliability, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The Process Engineer develops and implements process improvements, leads capital and continuous improvement projects, supports equipment troubleshooting and reliability initiatives, and maintains process documentation and standards. The position works closely with operations, maintenance, quality, and design engineering teams to optimize existing processes and successfully introduce new products, equipment, and manufacturing technologies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily with or without accommodation.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, throughput, cost reduction, and equipment reliability.
• Serve as the technical owner and primary engineering resource for assigned manufacturing processes, equipment, and product lines.
• Analyze manufacturing performance and implement process improvements to increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for process, equipment, quality, and production issues using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Analyze process data and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities and validate results.
• Plan, justify, and manage capital improvement projects, including equipment installations, modifications, and upgrades.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to optimize manufacturing performance and achieve production objectives.
• Develop, maintain, and improve process documentation including setup sheets, process specifications, operating procedures, control plans, PFMEAs, and engineering standards.
• Support maintenance teams in the troubleshooting, repair, rebuild, and reliability improvement of manufacturing equipment.
• Design, specify, and implement tooling, fixtures, gauges, and manufacturing equipment necessary to support production requirements.
• Evaluate manufacturing methods and technologies to improve productivity, product quality, safety, and process capability.
• Work with suppliers and contractors to develop specifications, evaluate proposals, procure equipment, and support successful project execution.
• Support new product introductions by developing robust manufacturing processes and ensuring production readiness.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional teams to execute improvement projects and resolve manufacturing challenges.
• Promote and support a safe work environment by identifying hazards and participating in safety improvement initiatives.
• Maintain compliance with applicable safety, quality, environmental, and company standards.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited university and/or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or related experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Experience leading process improvement, productivity, quality, or equipment reliability initiatives.
• Ability to exercise sound engineering judgment and work independently on complex assignments.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work across all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships across operations, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Ability to travel up to 10% as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience with forging, machining, heat treating, grinding, assembly, automation, or industrial production processes.
• Experience leading capital equipment projects from concept through implementation.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with root cause analysis tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone Diagram, FMEA, or similar problem-solving methods.
• Experience developing process documentation, work instructions, PFMEAs, and control plans.
• Experience with CAD software such as Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
• Experience specifying, evaluating, and commissioning manufacturing equipment.
• Project management experience including budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination.
• Familiarity with industrial safety standards and machine guarding principles.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug (including THC) and background screening.
• Must wear company-provided personal protection equipment (PPE) in required areas
• Ability to regularly stand, walk, and move throughout the office and manufacturing areas
• Must be comfortable working in a manufacturing environment, prior manufacturing experience a plus

Why Choose Amsted Rail Petersburg?

• Employee Ownership: Annual stock awards (10% of considered compensation)
• 401(k) Match: Up to 4% dollar-for-dollar
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, HSA with company contributions, life insurance, disability coverage, and pet insurance available after 30 days
• Competitive Pay: Competitive base salary based on education and experience, plus annual bonus potential and annual merit increase opportunities.
• Career Growth: Company supported development opportunities, including training, mentoring, tuition reimbursement, and certification assistance.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid Time Off (PTO) starting at 3 weeks annually, plus 11 paid holidays.
• Additional Offerings: Mentorship Opportunities, Tuition Reimbursement, Certification Assistance available, and Employee Discount Programs