Sr. Staff Process Engineer - (req73751)

Kohler; Reynosa; Hybrid; MXN 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Kohler Reynosa Plant is seeking a Sr. Staff Process Engineer to lead the development and optimization of hydraulic deep draw, heat treatment, and process washing for stainless steel products. You will drive process controls, equipment selection, and capital projects in a heavily integrated manufacturing environment.

The role requires extensive expertise in metallurgy, furnace atmospheres, and environmental compliance, with mentoring responsibilities across engineering teams and production staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• 10+ years manufacturing process engineering experience.
• Experience with heat treatment, stainless steel, hydraulic presses, deep draw forming, and industrial washing.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for annealing, heat treatment, and atmosphere control.
• Develop and maintain process controls for furnace operations and atmosphere management.
• Lead troubleshooting of heat treatment defects and process variation.
• Lead hydraulic press and tooling optimization for deep drawing and forming.
• Develop standards and procedures; mentor engineers and technicians.

Skills

Heat treatment

Metallurgy

Deep draw forming

Hydraulic press operations

Process washing

GD&T

Troubleshooting

Project management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Metallurgical/Chemical/Industrial Engineering

Job description

Sr. Staff Process Engineer

Kohler Reynosa Plant

Location: Reynosa, Tamps / Onsite

Position Summary

The Senior Staff Process Engineer is the technical authority responsible for the development, optimization, standardization, and continuous improvement of Hydraulic Deep Draw Pressing, Process Washing, and Heat Treatment operations. This role provides advanced engineering leadership in stainless steel manufacturing processes, tooling systems, metallurgy, furnace atmosphere controls, industrial cleaning processes, and new product introduction activities. The position partners closely with Manufacturing, Product Engineering, Tooling, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations leadership to improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost performance while supporting strategic manufacturing initiatives and capital projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Heat Treatment & Annealing Operations

• Provide technical leadership for annealing, bright annealing, and heat treatment processes for stainless steel products.
• Develop, implement, and maintain process controls for furnace operations and atmosphere management systems.
• Apply metallurgical principles to optimize material properties, grain structure, mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and cosmetic requirements.
• Support and optimize hydrogen generation systems, including ammonia dissociation and other hydrogen sources.
• Manage nitrogen generation systems, liquid nitrogen storage, distribution, consumption, and purity requirements.
• Establish and maintain standards for heat treatment atmosphere measurement, monitoring, and analysis.
• Develop and maintain dew point control programs, measurement techniques, and process specifications.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis of heat treatment defects, discoloration, oxidation, contamination, and process variation.
• Conduct engineering research and benchmarking activities to improve quality, throughput, energy efficiency, and operating costs.

Process Washing Operations

• Develop and maintain process controls for industrial washing operations utilizing caustic cleaners, alkaline soaps, detergents, and surfactants.
• Establish operating standards for wash chemistry concentration, temperature, rinse quality, and contamination control.
• Support process water treatment systems including:
  • Water softeners
  • Reverse osmosis systems
  • Process water monitoring systems
  • Water quality improvement initiatives
• Utilize chemistry-based analytical methods, including titration techniques, to verify active cleaner concentrations and wash chemistry performance.
• Establish cleanliness verification methods and standards including:
  • Surface energy testing
  • Wetting analysis
  • Dyne measurements
  • Water break testing
  • Other cleanliness measurement methods
• Lead projects focused on water conservation, chemical optimization, waste reduction, and operating cost improvements.
• Conduct engineering research to identify improved washing technologies and process enhancements.

Hydraulic Pressing and Tooling Operations

• Serve as the technical expert for hydraulic press operations used in stainless steel deep drawing, forming, trimming, piercing, and cutting applications.
• Develop and optimize deep draw manufacturing processes to improve product quality, process capability, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate tooling designs and recommend improvements to maximize tool life, part consistency, and throughput.
• Interpret engineering drawings, tooling blueprints, specifications, and manufacturing standards.
• Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles during process development, troubleshooting, and capability analysis.
• Support tooling material selection, coatings, heat treatment requirements, and wear-resistant technologies.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of tribology principles including friction, wear, lubrication, and material interactions.
• Develop and optimize lubrication systems, drawing compounds, process films, and associated manufacturing controls.
• Provide technical guidance regarding process waste streams, environmental compliance requirements, and process discharge management.
• Lead troubleshooting activities related to forming defects such as tearing, wrinkling, galling, thinning, springback, and dimensional variation.
• Support new product development through Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews and manufacturing feasibility assessments.
• Recommend product and process improvements to improve manufacturability, quality, and cost.

General Process Engineering Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Standard Work documentation.
• Create, revise, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Develop labor standards, manufacturing work instructions, and operator training materials.
• Perform ergonomic assessments and implement process improvements to reduce risk and improve productivity.
• Conduct capacity analysis, line balancing studies, and manufacturing constraint evaluations.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Research, specify, and justify new manufacturing equipment and technologies.
• Develop and manage capital project proposals and implementation activities.
• Lead equipment installation, startup, validation, and process qualification activities.
• Partner with Maintenance to develop and improve preventive maintenance strategies for existing and new equipment.
• Utilize data analysis and statistical methods to improve process capability and operational performance.
• Lead structured root cause investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, technicians, supervisors, and production personnel.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing process engineering experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience supporting one or more of the following:
• Heat Treatment Operations
• Stainless Steel Manufacturing
• Hydraulic Press Operations
• Deep Draw Forming Processes
• Industrial Washing Systems

Required Knowledge, Skills & Expertise

Heat Treatment & Metallurgy

• Annealing process control experience or demonstrated technical expertise.
• Strong knowledge of stainless steel metallurgy and heat treatment processes.
• Knowledge of bright annealing systems and atmosphere control requirements.
• Understanding of hydrogen generation technologies, including ammonia dissociation systems.
• Knowledge of nitrogen generation systems, liquid nitrogen management, and gas purity requirements.
• Experience with furnace atmosphere analysis and measurement methods.
• Knowledge of dew point measurement systems and control methodologies.
• Understanding of process gas distribution systems and atmosphere monitoring techniques.

Process Washing & Chemistry

• Knowledge of industrial washing systems utilizing high-pH and caustic cleaning chemistries.
• Understanding of detergents, surfactants, and wash chemistry control.
• Knowledge of water treatment systems, including softeners and reverse osmosis technologies.
• Experience with titration and analytical chemistry methods used in manufacturing environments.
• Understanding of cleanliness verification methods including surface energy, wetting, and dyne measurement techniques.

Hydraulic Deep Draw Pressing & Tooling

• Knowledge of hydraulic press operations used in stainless steel forming and cutting applications.
• Understanding of deep draw tooling design and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and tooling blueprints.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Knowledge of lubrication technologies, process films, and deep draw forming compounds.
• Understanding of tribology principles including friction, wear, and lubrication performance.
• Ability to provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback and feasibility recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma Certification.
• Project Management experience.
• Experience leading capital equipment projects.
• Experience in stainless steel consumer products, plumbing products, appliance manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or related metal-forming industries.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills (80% proficiency or greater preferred).

Key Competencies

• Advanced Technical Problem Solving
• Process Development & Optimization
• Metallurgical Knowledge
• Manufacturing Systems Expertise
• Continuous Improvement Leadership
• Project Management
• Statistical Analysis
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Technical Mentorship
• Communication Skills
• Safety Leadership
• Strategic ThinkingResults Orientation

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in manufacturing environments including exposure to noise, heat, moving machinery, chemicals, and industrial process equipment.
• Ability to walk production floors and participate in equipment evaluations and troubleshooting activities.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel up to 20% as required for supplier visits, equipment evaluations, and benchmarking activities.

Success Measures

• Safety performance improvements
• Process capability improvements (Cp/Cpk)
• Scrap and rework reduction
• Cost savings and productivity improvements
• Equipment uptime and reliability improvements
• Capital project execution
• New product launch success
• Standardization and documentation compliance
• Employee development and technical leadership
• Continuous improvement project results

Why Choose Kohler?

We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us

It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail]. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.