Plastic Injection Process Engineer

Keter North America; Anderson (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Keter North America is seeking a Process Engineer to establish robust molding processes, define process windows, and drive continuous improvement across injection molding operations. You will partner with Operations, Maintenance, Tool Room, and Quality to reduce variability, scrap and downtime, while training teams on best practices.

You will apply DOE, SPC, and material science to optimize cycle times and ensure mold readiness, quality compliance, and safe production in a fast-paced industrial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Plastics, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related).
• 7-10 years of hands-on injection molding process engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of PP and PC material behavior in molding applications.
• Proven ability to analyze data and solve complex process problems.

Responsibilities

• Establish scientifically validated process windows for PP, PC, and similar resins.
• Define and maintain golden settings based on melt temperature and shear, injection velocity, pack/hold pressure/time, cooling, and mold temperature control.
• Own process setup sheets, standard work, and controlled parameter limits.
• Lead engineering analysis of defects and correlate them to material conditions and mold/machine dynamics.
• Use DOE, cavity pressure trends, and SPC data to drive permanent solutions.
• Support mold trials, tool changes, and new tool introductions.
• Verify machine capability relative to material and mold requirements.
• Optimize cycle time without compromising part performance or mold life.

Skills

Injection molding principles

Process optimization

Statistical analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MES

DOE software

Job description

Summary:

The Process Engineer is responsible for establishing, stabilizing, and sustaining robust molding processes that deliver safe, repeatable, and cost-effective production. This role owns process definition, control, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement across injection molding operations. The Process Engineer ensures molding processes are documented, controlled, trained, enforced, and partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Tool Room, and Quality to eliminate variability, scrap, and downtime.

In This Role, You'll Have The Opportunity To:

• Establish scientifically validated process windows for PP, PC, and similar resins.
• Define and maintain golden settings based on melt temperature and shear, injection velocity profiles, pack/hold pressure and time, cooling efficiency and mold temperature control.
• Apply viscosity, shrinkage, and crystallization behavior (PP) and thermal sensitivity (PC) to process design.
• Own process setup sheets, standard work, and controlled parameter limits.
• Accountable not only for defining molding processes, but for training and mentoring the organization to run and protect them correctly.
• Lead engineering analysis of complex defects, including flow hesitation, jetting, sinks, warp, blush, splay, burns, voids, and dimensional instability.
• Correlate defects to material condition (moisture, degradation), mold design (venting, cooling, gating), and machine dynamics (pressure response, screw recovery).
• Use DOE, cavity pressure trends, and SPC data to drive permanent solutions.
• Partner with Tool Room and Maintenance to optimize cooling circuit performance, venting and gas evacuation, ejection and part release.
• Support mold trials, steel-safe changes, and new tool introductions.
• Ensure molds are technically capable of running defined process windows.
• Provide engineering input on wear components and mold PM requirements.
• Own molding-related process capability (Cp/Cpk).
• Implement SPC on critical process parameters and part characteristics.
• Transition quality control from inspection-based to process-controlled.
• Support investigations into scrap, quality holds, and customer complaints with data-driven analysis.
• Support commissioning and validation of electric, hydraulic, and hybrid injection molding presses, robots and downstream automation, dryers, chillers, and material handling systems.
• Verify machine capability relative to material and mold requirements.
• Optimize cycle time without compromising part performance or mold life.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and quality policies and procedures.
• Support shift coordination and effective communication to maintain process consistency.
• Other tasks as assigned.

What You Need To Succeed:

• **?** Deep knowledge of injection molding processes, mold design, material behavior, and process parameters.
• Proficiency in interpreting technical drawings, specifications, and process data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC), root cause analysis, and quality improvement tools.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative on process improvements.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Computer skills including MS Office and manufacturing execution systems (MES).

Education and Experience:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Plastics, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related)
• 7-10 years of hands-on injection molding process engineering experience
• Strong understanding of PP and PC material behavior in molding applications
• Proven ability to analyze data and solve complex process problems

Preferred

• RJG Master Molder I or II or equivalent scientific molding certification
• DOE, SPC, and Six Sigma exposure
• Experience in high-volume, multi-press manufacturing environments