Lead Process Engineer

Kimberly-Clark Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 87,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

On-site fitness center

Flexible Savings Accounts

401(k) and Profit Sharing

Job summary

Kimberly-Clark is seeking a Lead Process Engineer to provide technical leadership in the design, development, optimization, and operation of manufacturing assets, ensuring safety and reliability across processes. You will lead continuous improvement initiatives and root-cause analysis with cross-functional teams to maximize asset performance and cost savings.

The role partners with digital teams to leverage Power BI, MES, and OSI/PI data, driving proactive maintenance, robust run settings, and

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor or advanced degree in Chemical Engineering or Paper Science or related discipline
• A minimum of 3 years industrial experience in a high-speed consumer product manufacturing or staff environment
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, or as part of a team to complete projects within required timeframes
• Experience using manufacturing analysis tools, such as statistical process control, design of experiments, process capability studies, Six Sigma and lean manufacturing

Responsibilities

• Adherence to Process Standards and Continuous Improvement
• Drive implementation of process standards and programs to sustain asset performance and enable continuous improvement
• Ensure strong adherence to critical process parameters and operational best practices
• Support strategies for efficient changeovers and material quality management
• Lead trials and establish optimal run settings
• Apply engineering principles, problem-solving, and continuous improvement methodologies to resolve complex issues and identify opportunities
• Develop and maintain processes and standards that meet safety requirements and promote a safe work environment
• Lead initiatives to identify and mitigate safety risks
• Innovation and Asset Support: Manage initiatives to improve asset performance and deliver cost savings
• Provide technical support for operations and maintenance, including input to expense and capital planning
• Collaborate on projects from design through commissioning and ensure alignment with long-term objectives
• Coaching, Mentorship, and Collaboration: Share expertise and provide coaching to build team capability
• Support training and development plans for process roles
• Foster collaboration and uphold organizational values and ways of working

Skills

Industrial experience

Process control tools

Six Sigma

Lean manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Chemical Engineering or Paper Science

Tools

Power BI

MES

OSI/PI

Job description

Lead Process Engineer Job Description

Lead Process Engineer Job Description You’re not the person who will settle for just any role. Neither are we. Because we’re out to create Better Care for a Better World, and that takes a certain kind of person and teams who care about making a difference. Here, you’ll bring your professional expertise, talent, and drive to building and managing our portfolio of iconic, ground‑breaking brands. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU. The Lead Engineer Process role provides technical leadership and innovative solutions for the design, development, optimization, and operation of assigned assets and supporting processes. This position is responsible for ensuring safety and operational performance standards are met, leading programs that sustain asset reliability, and driving continuous improvement. The role also leads troubleshooting and problem‑solving initiatives to enhance process efficiency and asset performance.

Scope

• Owns machine and process health/effectiveness
• Drives Center lining on the asset – identifying key parameters and ensuring adherence to centerlines, and leading root cause analysis if a shift runs out of centerline for any critical‑to‑quality or critical‑to‑process parameter. (CTPs / CTQs)
• Champion Clean‑Inspect‑Lubricate on the line and ensure health check and effectiveness of CIL execution by the shift teams.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) of breakdowns working with the asset team (repeat/chronic issues, pareto of minor stops, pareto of unplanned stops)
• Drives execution of maintenance plan for the line working closely with the maintenance planner
• Custodian for all reporting – ensuring that all the KPIs are calculated as per KC global standards and reported accurately in the system
• Work with the Digital and DTS teams to drive use of Power BI reports, MES, OSI/PI and other digital tools as appropriate.

In this role, you will:

• Adherence to Process Standards and Continuous Improvement
• Drive implementation of process standards and programs to sustain asset performance and enable continuous improvement.
• Ensure strong adherence to critical process parameters and operational best practices.
• Support strategies for efficient changeovers and material quality management.
• Lead trials and establish optimal run settings.
• Apply engineering principles, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement methodologies to resolve complex issues and identify opportunities.
• Develop and maintain processes and standards that meet safety requirements and promote a safe work environment.
• Lead initiatives to identify and mitigate safety risks.
• Innovation and Asset Support: Manage initiatives to improve asset performance and deliver cost savings.
• Provide technical support for operations and maintenance, including input to expense and capital planning.
• Collaborate on projects from design through commissioning and ensure alignment with long‑term objectives.
• Coaching, Mentorship, and Collaboration: Share expertise and provide coaching to build team capability.
• Support training and development plans for process roles.
• Foster collaboration and uphold organizational values and ways of working.

About Us

Huggies®. Kleenex®. Cottonelle®. Scott®. Kotex®. Poise®. Depend®. Kimberly‑Clark Professional®. You already know our legendary brands—and so does the rest of the world. In fact, millions of people use Kimberly‑Clark products every day. We know these amazing Kimberly‑Clark products wouldn’t exist without talented professionals, like you. At Kimberly‑Clark, you’ll be part of the best team committed to driving innovation, growth and impact. We’re founded on more than 150 years of market leadership, and we’re always looking for new and better ways to perform – so there’s your open door of opportunity.

About You

You perform at the highest level possible, and you appreciate a performance culture fueled by authentic caring. You want to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development. You love what you do, especially when the work you do makes a difference. At Kimberly‑Clark, we’re constantly exploring new ideas on how, when, and where we can best achieve results. When you join our team, you’ll experience Flex That Works: flexible (hybrid) work arrangements that empower you to have purposeful time in the office and partner with your leader to make flexibility work for both you and the business. In one of our professional roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor or advanced degree in Chemical Engineering or Paper Science or related discipline
• A minimum of 3 years industrial experience in a variety of technical or operational assignments in a high‑speed consumer product manufacturing and/or staff environment.
• A demonstrated ability to work independently, or as part of a team to complete projects within required timeframes
• Experience using manufacturing analysis tools, such as statistical process control, design of experiments, process capability studies, Six Sigma and lean manufacturing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge with personal care production equipment, materials, and processes is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability of writing and presenting updates to leadership.
• Multiple years of experience in a variety of plant manufacturing and staff support or capital project assignments, including product, process and asset support.
• Experience working with external technical service providers.
• Familiarity with high‑speed manufacturing equipment machine startups.
• Experience and expertise with Kimberly‑Clark engineering procedures and processes is beneficial.

Work Environment

• Normal scheduled hours may vary based on the need to support 24/7 operations.
• Flexibility to travel up to 15% for benchmarking and best practice sharing across NA
• Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment.
• Potential of shift coverage to support assets, projects or initiatives

Total Benefits

• Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre‑existing condition restrictions.
• Access to an on‑site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high‑quality safety equipment.
• Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.
• Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
• Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

Salary Range

Salary Range: 87,260 – 107,780 USD. At Kimberly‑Clark, pay is just one aspect of our total rewards package, which also includes a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve, thrive and grow. Along with base pay, this position offers eligibility for a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits suite, including our 401(k) and Profit Sharing plan. The anticipated base pay range for this role is provided above for a fully qualified hire. Actual pay will depend on several factors, such as location, role, skills, performance, and experience. Please note that the stated pay range applies to US locations only.

Primary Location

• Warren Plant
• Additional Locations
• Worker Type Employee
• Worker Sub‑Type Regular Time Type Full time

Equal Opportunity

We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.

Employment is subject to verification of pre‑screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check.

Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply.

Kimberly‑Clark will support in‑country relocation for the chosen candidate for the role. The benefits provided will be per the terms of Kimberly‑Clark’s applicable mobility policies. The benefits/policy provided will be decided in Kimberly‑Clark’s sole discretion.

Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we’re working to find new ways to make a positive impact on the world we share. Kimberly‑Clark and its trusted brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull‑Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries by helping individuals experience more of what’s important to them. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To learn more about the company’s 150‑year history of innovation, visit kimberly‑clark.com.