Foundry Engineering Manager

J&T Business Consulting; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

J&T Business Consulting is seeking a Spokane-based Foundry Engineering Manager to act as the primary technical problem solver across molding, melting, and finishing, reducing scrap and increasing throughput. This hands-on role leads the pattern shop and foundry engineering, delivering technical recommendations to management.

You will analyze scrap data, drive yield improvements, design gating and solidification, coach teams, and apply Lean methods to establish robust process standards.

Qualifications

• BS in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of foundry engineering experience with hands-on white iron or steel casting.
• Experience with pattern and method design including gating, risering, and solidification.
• Strong, metrics-driven root-cause problem solving and scrap reduction.
• Lean Manufacturing knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the foundry's primary technical problem solver to drive throughput and quality.
• Reviews scrap and rework reports to identify root causes and reduce scrap.
• Collaborates with molding and melting managers to improve casting quality.
• Drives pattern/method design to improve yield and reduce finishing needs.
• Identifies critical control points and implements corrective actions.
• Manages foundry engineering staff and supports new product development.
• Applies statistical methods to analyze processes and set standards.
• Provides technical support to internal and external departments.
• Recommends improvements to equipment and facilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Metallurgical analysis

Foundry engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Pattern and method design

Root-cause problem solving

Statistical methods

Education

BS in Metallurgical Engineering

Metallurgy background

Job description

Spokane, United States

We are seeking a Foundry Engineering Manager to serve as the foundry’s primary technical problem solver. This is a hands‑on engineering role focused on reducing scrap, improving casting quality, and increasing throughput across molding, melting, and finishing. The role leads the pattern shop and foundry engineering function and provides technical recommendations to department managers and senior leadership.

This is a technical role centered on root‑cause problem solving and process improvement. It is not a quality‑systems or QMS administration position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Acts as the foundry’s primary technical problem solver, using metallurgical analysis and foundry experience to drive throughput and quality across molding, melting, and finishing.
  
• Reviews scrap and rework reports to identify root cause and drive measurable, sustained scrap reduction.
  
• Works closely with the molding manager and melting manager to improve casting quality and reduce downstream finishing. Coaches molding and melting teams on practices that improve as‑cast quality.
  
• Drives pattern and method design (gating, risering, solidification) to improve yield and reduce finishing requirements.
  
• Identifies critical control points in the foundry process that drive defects or quality loss, and implements corrective action.
  
• Reduces consumption of foundry consumables (chemicals, sleeves, filters, refractories, and similar) without compromising casting quality.
  
• Manages the foundry engineering staff.
  
• Applies statistical methods and engineering calculations to analyze processes and defects and to establish technically sound process standards.
  
• Provides technical support to departments both inside and outside the foundry.
  
• Supports new product development, including translating customer requirements into producible casting and method designs.
  
• Recommends improvements to foundry equipment and facilities.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Knowledge and Skills

• BS in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field. Foundry metallurgy background preferred.
  
• Minimum 5 years of foundry engineering experience, with direct hands‑on experience in white iron and/or steel casting.
  
• Demonstrated experience with pattern and method design, including gating, risering, and solidification.
  
• Strong, metrics‑driven root‑cause problem‑solving skills, including casting defect analysis and scrap reduction.
  
• Detailed knowledge of Lean Manufacturing a plus.