Paper Mill Process Engineer: Optimize, Improve & Lead

Sonoco; California; On-site; USD 93,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Wellbeing tools and resources

Paid time off and holidays

Insurance plans (life, personal, etc.)

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sonoco, a global leader in packaging, seeks a Process Engineer - Paper Mill to lead engineering support in City of Industry, CA. The role focuses on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement across paper‑making operations.

You will drive process improvements, support capital projects, and collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and suppliers to ensure reliable, efficient mill performance. This is a growth path with measurable impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Two+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Experience with paper-machine operations and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with hourly employees, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, suppliers, and plant leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for manufacturing control strategies and continuous process improvement.
• Analyze production data and operating trends to identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost.
• Identify and eliminate sources of process variation, waste, scrap, downtime, and quality loss.
• Develop, test, implement, and sustain improvements to paper‑making processes and operating procedures.
• Apply structured problem‑solving and root‑cause‑analysis methods to recurring process and equipment issues.
• Establish appropriate process controls and operating parameters to sustain improvements.
• Provide day‑to‑day engineering support to Operations and Maintenance.
• Troubleshoot paper‑machine, process, quality, chemical, utility, and related manufacturing issues.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of paper‑machine processes, equipment capabilities, production performance, and key operating indicators.
• Evaluate process testing and trial results and communicate findings and recommendations to Operations and plant leadership.
• Support process design, equipment optimization, commissioning, and start‑up activities.
• Assist Maintenance with equipment reliability, troubleshooting, maintenance planning, and coordination with equipment manufacturers and technical service providers.
• Lead and participate in continuous‑improvement activities using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Total Quality Management, and other structured problem‑solving techniques as appropriate.
• Facilitate cross‑functional teams to identify root causes, develop countermeasures, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Conduct process and mill audits to identify improvement opportunities and develop action plans.
• Track results to ensure improvements achieve the expected operational and business benefits.
• Identify opportunities where new equipment, automation, instrumentation, or technology can improve mill performance.
• Develop capital project justifications and authorization requests.
• Manage assigned capital and process‑improvement projects from scope development through installation, commissioning, and start‑up.
• Coordinate project activities with Operations, Maintenance, contractors, vendors, and equipment suppliers.
• Support the transfer and implementation of proven technologies and best practices from other manufacturing locations.
• Work collaboratively with Quality, Operations, suppliers, and customers to improve existing paper grades and support development or qualification of new products and process changes.
• Investigate process‑related quality issues and identify corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop process‑control plans that support consistent product quality and sustainable long‑term improvement.
• Coordinate and evaluate chemical and process trials designed to improve paper‑machine performance or product characteristics.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, process documentation, operating guidelines, and standard work instructions.
• Manage and document engineering and process changes, ensuring process and control records remain current.
• Work directly with operators and technicians to strengthen process knowledge and troubleshooting capability.
• Develop or support technical training associated with process changes, new equipment, operating standards, and process improvements.
• Demonstrate visible leadership and personal accountability for workplace safety.
• Incorporate safety and environmental considerations into process changes, equipment modifications, trials, and capital projects.
• Evaluate processes and operating conditions to identify opportunities to reduce operational risk.
• Work collaboratively with Operations and Maintenance to ensure process improvements do not compromise safe operating practices.

Skills

Safety leadership

Process optimization

Paper manufacturing knowledge

Technical troubleshooting

Root-cause analysis

Continuous improvement

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Equipment and process reliability

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Operator training and development

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Science, or related technical discipline

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Pulp & Paper Engineering

Job description

Sonoco, a global leader in packaging, seeks a Process Engineer - Paper Mill to lead engineering support in City of Industry, CA. The role focuses on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement across paper‑making operations.

You will drive process improvements, support capital projects, and collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and suppliers to ensure reliable, efficient mill performance. This is a growth path with measurable impact.