Electroplating Technical Director

Brightpath Associates LLC; Kentucky; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading plating solutions provider is seeking a Technical Director responsible for overseeing the performance and stability of plating chemistry and wastewater treatment systems. The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related field and have 7–10+ years of experience in electroplating, with strong leadership skills. This role requires collaborating across functions to enhance process performance and ensure compliance. Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, results-focused environment and willing to relocate near Ashtabula County, Ohio.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in electroplating.
• Strong knowledge of plating chemistry control and wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience leading technical or process teams in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Define operating targets for plating chemistry and WWT systems.
• Ensure wastewater treatment systems operate within permitted limits.
• Lead Chemistry Managers and Chemistry Technicians across facilities.

Skills

Plating chemistry control

Wastewater treatment systems

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field

Job description

The Technical Director is responsible for the performance and stability of our plating chemistry and wastewater treatment (WWT) systems.

This role ensures chemistry and WWT processes operate safely, consistently, efficiently and within defined operating parameters so production reliably meets customer specifications. The role focuses on building and maintaining disciplined process control systems so plating chemistry and wastewater treatment operate predictably and support stable production.

The Technical Director leads the company’s chemistry teams across all facilities, establishes strong process control systems, and drives continuous improvement.

We operate facilities in Ashtabula, Ohio; Jefferson, Ohio; and El Paso, Texas, each with a chemistry and wastewater treatment team reporting to the Technical Director.

Essential Functions

Process Control

• Define operating targets and specification limits for plating chemistry and WWT systems
• Ensure plating baths remain within optimal operating parameters
• Review titration, Hull cell, and lab data to detect and correct issues
• Lead root cause analysis when plating results fall outside expectations

Wastewater Treatment & Compliance

• Ensure wastewater treatment systems consistently operate within permitted limits
• Troubleshoot treatment issues and restore process control
• Maintain compliance with EPA and environmental regulations

Leadership

• Lead Chemistry Managers and Chemistry Technicians across all facilities
• Set clear expectations and hold teams accountable for performance
• Coach and develop team members to strengthen technical capability
• Reduce process variation, scrap, rework, and chemical consumption
• Work with suppliers and industry experts to evaluate new chemistries and processes
• Identify opportunities to improve plating efficiency and reliability

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Procurement to improve process performance
• Support troubleshooting, product development, and operational improvements

Systems & Metrics Ownership

• Establish process controls and monitoring systems for plating chemistry and WWT
• Ensure lab data and operating metrics are consistently recorded and reviewed
• Identify trends before processes move out of control
• Standardize best practices across all facilities

Required Education, Experience, Skills, and Needs

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field
• 7–10+ years of experience in electroplating
• Strong knowledge of plating chemistry control and wastewater treatment systems
• Experience leading technical or process teams in a manufacturing environment
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
• Ability to use data to monitor and improve process performance
• Comfortable working in a cross-functional teams.
• Willing to reside within 30 miles of Ashtabula County, Ohio.
• Comfortable working in a high-energy, continuous improvement, results-focused environment

Preferred Experience and Education

• 10 or more years of experience supervising a staff of 5 or more associates