Production Engineer

G‑3 Chickadee - formerly part of Goodyear Chemical - is undergoing a major transformation. As a newly independent, Private Equity–backed organization, we are modernizing our infrastructure, implementing new systems (SAP, MES, cybersecurity), and building a strong operational foundation for continued growth. Local candidates preferred due to proximity to the worksite and interview/ onboarding logistics. Relocation is not available.

About you and this role:

The production engineer serves as a vital resource for Operations by applying technical skills to optimize plant operations, resolve plant problems, and enable safe and efficient production of low cost, quality products. The role requires in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge in job discipline and basic knowledge of related job disciplines to solve complex problems.

Responsibilities / Duties:

• Works closely with the operations team leveraging their problem--solving skills and technical expertise.
• Elevates and appropriately applies knowledge of the plant and technology referencing historical data and conferring with Technology Center or other subject matter experts (SMEs).
• Ensures Most Effective Technology (MET) is understood and utilized and that process automation is used as a tool to optimize plant performance.
• Utilizes defined MET and challenges/escalates MET application and assumptions when better solutions arise.
• Partners with experts to perform advanced troubleshooting and improve and document operating discipline.
• Diagnoses and documents root causes of asset utilization losses in the facility.
• Investigates and determines corrective actions for incidents impacting product quality.
• Performs scheduled process quality internal audits and presents findings.
• Maintains operating work instructions and procedures for designated areas.
• Coodinates raw material and finished product trials.
• Utilizes process data to support continuous improvement efforts.
• Understands why specific procedure steps and precautions are needed and keeps a strong field presence to reinforce the importance.
• Conducts daily review of plant logs and alarm history to better understand the plant operation and stay engaged with daily activities.
• Maintains, owns, and reviews daily Key Process Indicators (KPI)/ trends to ensure optimum performance.
• Responds urgently to plant issues and emergencies.
• Acts as a unit technical expert during unplanned events and drives implementation of effective corrective and preventative actions.
• Provides leadership, expertise, diagnosis, and optimization in plant Raw Material Efficiency, which may include yield or waste generation.
• Ensures compliance with plant operating permits. Understands site integration and provides input to optimize the overall system.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of bachelor's degree in engineering is required.
• 2 years of operations, engineering, manufacturing or related experience is preferred.
• Performance in polymer technology experience preferred.
• A minimum requirement for this position is the ability to work legally in the United States. No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position, including for any type of U.S. permanent residency (green card) process.

Able to meet the following physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Work at heights, climbs stairs and ladders.
• Wear all required personal protective equipment, such as earplugs, goggles, and steel-toed shoes.
• Work in an area of intense or continuous noise.
• Work in an area with hazardous materials.
• Stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• This role does involve elevated work greater than or equal to four feet above the ground.
• Must be able to wear and use personal protective equipment (PPE), including harnesses with a total weight capacity of 300lbs. (This typically accommodates individuals who weigh 285 or less.)

Your Skills:

• Communication: Professional communication, encompasses written, oral, visual and digital communication within a workplace context.
• Cross-Functional Work: Cross-functional work is the work that happens between different teams or departments within an organization.
• Results-Oriented: Result-Oriented is a term used to portray a person who focuses on results and achieves them.
• Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the analysis of facts to form a judgment. The subject is complex, and several different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, unbiased analysis, or evaluation of factual evidence.