LifeMade- Engineer, Process Injection Molding

Colonial Group; Erlanger (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group is seeking an experienced Engineer to optimize designs for molds and to implement Plastic Extrusion and Plastic Molding processes from pilot to production. The role includes running tests and DOE studies to improve procedures, process parameters, and part design.

You will lead process development, document procedures, and mentor teams to ensure quality, reliability, and cost efficiency across manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in Engineering or related discipline, preferably plastics.
• 5 years’ experience in manufacturing processes, design engineering, automation, and project management.
• Understanding of modern injection molding techniques and processes.

Responsibilities

• Performs mold process development using a scientific approach, aiming at optimum process and meeting specs.
• Develop, implement, and document procedures for determining process parameters through production scheduling.
• Develop and establish manufacturing process parameters on existing molds using techniques like mold balance, gate freeze study, and viscosity studies.
• Provide direction to supervisors and quality personnel for mold maintenance and repair while building trust.
• Create positive customer relationships through sampling results and problem solutions.
• Recommends designs for special equipment and assists with product and process R&D programs.
• Maintain knowledge of equipment such as robots, hot runner systems, etc., and ensure proper use.
• Evaluate plastic processing and support equipment for productivity/quality improvement and cost reduction.
• Maintain updated knowledge to continuously improve quality and productivity.
• Document samples, processes, and production information accurately.
• Support New Business Development and Engineering as SME for tooling that meets objectives.

Skills

DOE methods

SPC

Mold flow analysis

FMEA

3D CAD

SolidWorks

Project management

Communication

Teamwork

Troubleshooting

Education

Four-year degree in Engineering or related discipline

Tools

SolidWorks

3D CAD

Mold Flow Software

Job description

Responsible for optimizing designs for molds ensuring efficiency, quality, and functionality of various products. Also responsible for implementing Plastic Extrusion and Plastic Molding manufacturing processes, equipment, and plants (from pilot to operational). Includes: running experiments and tests to aid in the development of improved manufacturing procedures, processes and part design.

Primary Functions:

• Performs mold process development using scientific approach, aiming at optimum process, also meeting quality and productivity specifications.
• Develop, implement, and document procedures designed to facilitate the determination and reporting of process parameters, through the setup phase of production scheduling to assure process reliability.
• Develop and establish manufacturing process parameters on existing molds utilizing established and innovative techniques such as mold balance analysis, gate freeze study, and relative viscosity study, ensuring stable and repeatable processes.
• Provides direction to supervisors and quality personnel to assist in mold maintenance, repair and cleaning as needed, while maintaining a relationship of trust, confidence and support.
• Create positive customer relationship through results of sampling and solutions to production problems.
• Recommends designs for special equipment and assists production with product and process research and development programs.
• Maintains and instructs on the proper maintenance and use of product specific equipment such as robots, hot runner systems, etc.
• Evaluates plastic processing and support equipment for productivity/quality improvement and/or cost reduction.
• Maintains updated knowledge on methods, systems, and equipment to continuously improve quality and productivity.
• Creates and maintains accurate documentation on all samples, processes, production items/problems and other necessary information.
• Supports New Business Development, Engineering and Operations as a subject matter expert to assist in the design, development and source tooling that meet functional and cost objectives of new products.

• Runs experiments and tests to aid in the development of improved manufacturing procedures and processes. Executes DOE’s, results reporting and consequential SOPs, maintaining complete observation and experiment records to support such activities.

Key Qualifications:

• Four-year degree in Engineering or related discipline, preferably from an education institution specializing in Plastics Engineering, or equivalent experience
• Five years’ experience in manufacturing processes, design engineering, automation and project management, with skills to develop unique and novel design solutions.
• Understanding of modern injection molding techniques and processes.
• Familiarity with scientific analysis methods such as DOE, SPC, Mold Flow analysis, and FMEA.
• Skills to use a systematic approach in solving problems through analysis of problems and evaluation of alternate solutions.
• Skills to start and persist with specific courses of action while exhibiting high motivation and a sense of urgency
• Experience with 3D CAD, Solidworks preferred.
• Master mold certificate a plus.
• Great organizational and planning capabilities with exceptional problem-prevention/solving skills.
• Must be detail oriented, able to meet deadlines on complex projects and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional teamwork and communication skills, including the ability to get things done and meet commitments by working with and through others; requires being able to establish effective work relationships at all levels, internally and with customers/suppliers

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Sitting at workstation approximately 50 percent of work time. Standing and walking approximately 50 percent of work time.
• Must be able to travel 25 percent of work time.
• Ability to work overtime or occasionally on weekends with short notice.
• Typical office environment with shelves overhead and above work surfaces.
• Typical floor environment is temperature controlled; requires safety glasses, safety shoes and ear plugs.