Engineering Technician

Polymer Concepts Technologies, Inc; Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Polymer Concepts Technologies PBY, Inc. seeks an Engineering Technician to provide hands-on technical support across production lines. You will help ensure equipment is ready, diagnose process issues, and support continuous-improvement initiatives on the floor.

You will work with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to resolve problems, validate setups, and reinforce standard work with training and documentation. A strong background in manufacturing environments is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of manufacturing/ production experience.
• Hands-on knowledge of equipment and shop-floor operations.
• Experience troubleshooting equipment and processes.
• Experience with equipment or process setups.

Responsibilities

• Support daily production by ensuring presses and related equipment are operational.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing processes to maintain standards and cycle times.
• Assist with setups and validation of molding/secondary operations.
• Train staff on equipment setups and standard work.
• Support Lean, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Troubleshooting

Process improvement

Communication

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Engineering Technician provides hands-on technical support to manufacturing operations by ensuring production equipment and processes are properly set up, operating effectively, and capable of meeting established production standards. This position serves as a technical resource to Production and Engineering by troubleshooting equipment and process issues, supporting standardized work, validating manufacturing setups, and assisting with the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.

The Engineering Technician works closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other cross-functional partners to identify and resolve manufacturing issues, improve process reliability, and reinforce established operating and training requirements. The role is expected to demonstrate broad knowledge of production-floor operations and provide technical guidance and peer leadership to production employees.

Essential Job Functions

• Support daily production operations by helping ensure scheduled presses and related production equipment are operational and available to meet manufacturing requirements.
• Monitor and support production processes to help ensure equipment operates within established standards, including expected cycle or standard times.
• Troubleshoot production equipment, tooling, setups, and manufacturing processes to identify causes of operational problems and restore effective production.
• Troubleshoot molding processes and assist in resolving issues related to process parameters, equipment performance, tooling, materials, and production methods.
• Troubleshoot secondary manufacturing operations and coordinate appropriate corrective actions with Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, or other resources as needed.
• Troubleshoot part-marking operations and related equipment or process issues to support product and customer requirements.
• Perform or support production equipment and process setups and validate that molding and secondary-operation setups are completed in accordance with approved requirements.
• Train production employees on equipment setups, manufacturing processes, standardized work, and proper operating procedures within assigned areas of technical expertise.
• Maintain applicable training records and reinforce adherence to established operating procedures and work instructions.
• Develop, review, and revise operation sheets, work instructions, standardized work documentation, and related production documents in coordination with Engineering and Operations.
• Review applicable nonconformance documentation and participate in follow-up, problem-solving, root-cause investigation, and corrective-action activities as assigned.
• Assist Engineering and Production with evaluation of recurring manufacturing issues, process variation, downtime, scrap, rework, and other factors affecting production performance.
• Apply Lean manufacturing, 5S, waste-reduction, and continuous-improvement principles to production processes and work areas.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, production flow, setup effectiveness, standard work, safety, quality, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support implementation and validation of approved process changes, equipment improvements, tooling changes, and manufacturing methods.
• Provide technical guidance and peer leadership to production employees while reinforcing established manufacturing, quality, safety, and procedural requirements.
• Communicate production or technical concerns promptly to Engineering, Production leadership, Quality, Maintenance, or other appropriate stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate technical, training, process, and production-related records as required.
• Perform assigned wastewater-related monitoring, operational, documentation, or support responsibilities in accordance with established company procedures and applicable environmental requirements.

Additional Duties

• Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to meet business needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, production, process support, equipment setup, or a related technical manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated hands‑on knowledge of manufacturing equipment and production‑floor operations.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing equipment, production processes, or process‑related problems.
• Experience performing or supporting equipment and process setups.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow work instructions, operation sheets, specifications, process documentation, and established manufacturing procedures.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to accurately maintain electronic or paper records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship, or equivalent training in manufacturing technology, mechanical technology, engineering technology, industrial maintenance, or a related discipline.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in a technical manufacturing environment.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, elastomeric products, seals, molding, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience with compression, transfer, injection, or related molding processes.
• Experience with secondary manufacturing operations and part-marking processes.
• Experience supporting Lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause analysis, corrective action, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Experience developing or revising manufacturing work instructions, operation sheets, or standardized work documentation.
• Experience training or providing technical guidance to production employees.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong practical knowledge of manufacturing equipment, production processes, setups, and shop-floor operations.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and technical troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to systematically identify potential causes of equipment and process problems and support effective corrective actions.
• Ability to interpret manufacturing instructions, specifications, process requirements, and technical documentation.
• Understanding of Lean manufacturing, 5S, standardized work, waste reduction, and continuous-improvement concepts.
• Ability to recognize process variation and manufacturing conditions that could affect safety, quality, productivity, scrap, or delivery performance.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause-analysis skills.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to production employees, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and operational leadership.
• Ability to train, coach, and provide technical guidance to peers without formal supervisory authority.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple production priorities and respond effectively to changing operational needs.
• Ability to work independently within established procedures while recognizing when technical or operational issues require escalation.
• Proficiency with applicable manufacturing, ERP, documentation, and Microsoft Office systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk throughout production and manufacturing areas for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, climb, and work around production equipment as required.
• Ability to use hand tools, measuring devices, production equipment, and other technical equipment associated with assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand and arm movements and demonstrate sufficient manual dexterity to perform equipment setup and troubleshooting activities.
• Ability to visually inspect equipment, tooling, materials, parts, process conditions, and manufacturing documentation.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials, tooling, equipment, or supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

The position operates primarily within a manufacturing environment and requires regular presence on the production floor. The employee may be exposed to production machinery, moving equipment, noise, heat, manufacturing materials, chemicals, oils, particulates, and other conditions associated with industrial manufacturing operations.

The position may require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to applicable safety, quality, environmental, and manufacturing procedures.

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Export Control / ITAR Compliance Statement

This position may require access to information and items subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Access to such information is restricted to

U.S. persons as defined under applicable law. Employment in this position is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements and, where applicable, the company’s ability to obtain any required authorization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Polymer Concepts Technologies PBY, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with business needs.