Plant Metallurgist

Kaiser Aluminum; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

10 paid holidays per year

Supplemental leave with WA Paid Family

401K with company match

Job summary

Kaiser Aluminum seeks a Process Metallurgist to join the onsite team in Richland, WA. You will manage the Quality Management System, quality laboratory, ISO 9001, and the plant pyrometry program to drive continuous improvement in seamless extrusions.

This safety-sensitive role requires a pre-employment drug screen and offers medical, life, and retirement benefits along with paid holidays and 401(k) matching.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Metallurgy, Materials, or related engineering field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a metallurgist or process engineer.
• Aluminum industry experience preferred.
• Experience in LEAN manufacturing and statistical problem-solving.
• Proven ability to work in teams in a low supervision environment while meeting goals.
• Experience managing technical projects/initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in data acquisition, analysis, and report writing.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, One Drive).
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the Quality Management System which includes management of document control, internal/external auditing, and work procedures, etc.
• Manage Quality Laboratory which includes tensile testing, hardness testing, and various customer requirements.
• Maintain ISO 9001 certification.
• Manage plant pyrometry program which includes temperature uniformity surveys (TUS), system accuracy test (SAT), and calibrations.
• Manage vital few/near-miss activities and facilitate annual product liability/corporate audits.
• Key member for plant continuous improvement and key support for business initiatives such as TTIs and Capital Planning/project management.
• Tracking of KPIs for weekly/monthly reporting.
• Investigate nonconformances and use lean six-sigma tools for corrective action.
• Develop and lead quality training to operational teams.
• Develop and execute trials to optimize product quality and reduce cost.
• Support commercial organization with new product inquiries through product and process capability assessments.
• Ensure compliance to applicable industry and customer requirements.
• Primary technical contact for customers which includes management of customer issues, project lead for trials, and oversight of product reporting via certified test reports.
• Key support for ERP functions and integration with shop floor reporting system.
• Develop, approve, and manage SMART plans that define project goals.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards for product liability and export control.
• Support plant safety initiatives through active involvement in the safety process.

Skills

LEAN manufacturing

statistical problem-solving

data acquisition

analysis and report writing

communication skills

team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

BS in Metallurgy/Materials or related engineering

Job description

Kaiser Aluminum is known around the world for its superior quality. Our secret is what we put into it—innovative thinking, industry-leading reliability, and a world-class commitment to customer service. In short, the same qualities we look for in our people. We are looking for a Process Metallurgist to join the Kaiser Aluminum onsite team in Richland Washington!

This is an onsite position. At this time, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role, either now or in the future. Therefore, we cannot move forward with candidates who would require sponsorship and or are on (e.g., H-1B, F-1, STEM OPT, OPT) visas.

The Process Metallurgist will focus on achieving best-in-class products in seamless extrusions by enhancing quality assurance, driving continuous improvement, and building a proactive quality culture.

• Salary range $90,000 to $120,000 commensurate with experience.
• High deductible medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, including spouse and children (modest payroll deductions).
• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Supplemental leave (used in conjunction with Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave).
• 401K with matching company funds.

What you will work on:

• Responsible for the Quality Management System which includes management of document control, internal/external auditing, and work procedures, etc.
• Manage Quality Laboratory which includes tensile testing, hardness testing, and various customer requirements.
• Maintain ISO 9001 certification.
• Manage plant pyrometry program which includes temperature uniformity surveys (TUS), system accuracy test (SAT), and calibrations.
• Manage vital few/near-miss activities and facilitate annual product liability/corporate audits.
• Key member for plant continuous improvement and key support for business initiatives such as TTIs and Capital Planning/project management.
• Tracking of KPIs for weekly/monthly reporting.
• Investigate nonconformances and use lean six-sigma tools for corrective action.
• Develop and lead quality training to operational teams.
• Develop and execute trials to optimize product quality and reduce cost.
• Support commercial organization with new product inquiries through product and process capability assessments.
• Ensure compliance to applicable industry and customer requirements.
• Primary technical contact for customers which includes management of customer issues, project lead for trials, and oversight of product reporting via certified test reports.
• Key support for ERP functions and integration with shop floor reporting system.
• Develop, approve, and manage SMART plans that define project goals.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards for product liability and export control.
• Support plant safety initiatives through active involvement in the safety process.

What you will bring to the role:

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Metallurgy, Materials, or related engineering field preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a metallurgist or process engineer.
• Aluminum industry experience preferred.
• Experience in LEAN manufacturing and statistical problem-solving.
• Proven ability to work in teams in a low supervision environment while successfully meeting goals.
• Experience managing technical projects/initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in data acquisition, analysis, and report writing.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, One Drive).
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.

This position has been determined to be a safety-sensitive position and requires a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen that includes marijuana.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About Kaiser Aluminum: Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.