Process and Product Engineer

Continental Industry; Mount Pleasant (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Continental is seeking a production-focused engineer to manage new product introduction and production support after transfer from design to production. You will collaborate with design, process, test, reliability, and manufacturing engineering to resolve issues and optimize processes.

You will develop cost-reducing improvements, coordinate production activities to meet budget and targets, and drive continuous improvement of production-relevant processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering: Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or related technical discipline
• 2+ years in a manufacturing environment supporting product introductions, equipment installation, and production/process support
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Troubleshooting manufacturing processes
• Good writing and verbal communication skills
• Good MS Office skills and other engineering software

Responsibilities

• Provide production technical support, quality testing reviews, and troubleshooting of production technical problems.
• Coordinate processing, technical, and quality activities of the department.
• Responsible for developing rubber technology knowledge, pursuing cost reductions for current products and processes, maintaining quality standards, and providing technical and decision-making support to the operators on the factory floor.
• Providing technical customer service; communication with the customer in connection with all technical questions concerning rubber compounds.
• Introduce, develop, and look after the recipes to ensure meeting the customer requirements. Accompany mixing trials and processing trials at the customer.
• Responsible for the disposition of non-conforming material according to standards.
• Maintains reliable processing, compound, and raw material specifications.
• Sets up experimental laboratory and factory evaluation trials in product and process areas.
• Maintains technical and quality status reporting requirements.
• Serves as a source of chemical awareness and compliance.
• Contribute to strategic and operative planning of the Compounding operations unit (e.g., with respect to investments, health and safety, quality and capacity)
• Meets daily with mix employees to assess stock and production performance.
• Resolves technical problems that arise with stocks, materials, and equipment
• Assist in product release strategy and product return process.
• Focused efforts on driving/implementing new technology to eliminate factory stock processing problems and implement Poke Yoke methods.
• Improves physical properties of existing compounds using new techniques.
• Provides technical support for equipment design and new or improved processing equipment.
• Assembles and analyzes data regarding compound performances.
• Uses analytical troubleshooting techniques in problem-solving activities.
• Maintain and improve Quality systems to meet ISO:9001-2015 and internal standards
• Participate in Internal/External Quality audits.
• Ensure Processing/Quality performance (KPI) monitoring and reporting (e.g., regarding waste, customer complaints, etc.) in cooperation with plant controlling and production.
• Participate in or steer local mixing related and cross-functional projects.

Skills

Strong problem-solving skills

Troubleshooting manufacturing

Communication skills

MS Office & engineering software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Company DescriptionContinental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2024, Continental generated sales of €39.7 billion and currently employs around 190,000 people in 55 countries and markets.

Company DescriptionContinental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2024, Continental generated sales of €39.7 billion and currently employs around 190,000 people in 55 countries and markets. ContiTech\'s industrial growth areas are primarily in the areas of energy, agriculture, construction, and surfaces. In addition, ContiTech serves the automotive and transportation industries as well as rail transport.

Job DescriptionManages new product introduction and production support engineering for a specific product or group of products after transfer from design to in-house or outsourced production. Interfaces with design, process, test, reliability and manufacturing engineering to solve product issues and production problems.

Develops and sustains process improvements to reduce production costs and increase yields. Coordinate and control all production activities in order to meet budget and production targets (e.g. maximize quality and capacity utilization, reduce cost and lead time). Furthermore, the Head of Production initiates and implements action plans for the continuous improvement of all production-relevant processes.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT?

• Provide production technical support, quality testing reviews, and troubleshooting of production technical problems.
• Coordinate processing, technical, and quality activities of the department.
• Responsible for developing rubber technology knowledge, pursuing cost reductions for current products and processes, maintaining quality standards, and providing technical and decision-making support to the operators on the factory floor.
• Providing technical customer service; communication with the customer in connection with all technical questions concerning rubber compounds.
• Introduce, develop, and look after the recipes to ensure meeting the customer requirements. Accompany mixing trials and processing trials at the customer.
• Responsible for the disposition of non-conforming material according to standards.
• Maintains reliable processing, compound, and raw material specifications.
• Sets up experimental laboratory and factory evaluation trials in product and process areas.
• Maintains technical and quality status reporting requirements.
• Serves as a source of chemical awareness and compliance.
• Contribute to strategic and operative planning of the Compounding operations unit (e.g., with respect to investments, health and safety, quality and capacity)
• Meets daily with mix employees to assess stock and production performance.
• Resolves technical problems that arise with stocks, materials, and equipment
• Assist in product release strategy and product return process.
• Focused efforts on driving/implementing new technology to eliminate factory stock processing problems and implement Poke Yoke methods.
• Improves physical properties of existing compounds using new techniques.
• Provides technical support for equipment design and new or improved processing equipment.
• Assembles and analyzes data regarding compound performances.
• Uses analytical troubleshooting techniques in problem-solving activities.
• Maintain and improve Quality systems to meet ISO:9001-2015 and internal standards
• Participate in Internal/External Quality audits.
• Ensure Processing/Quality performance (KPI) monitoring and reporting (e.g., regarding waste, customer complaints, etc.) in cooperation with plant controlling and production.
• Participate in or steer local mixing related and cross-functional projects.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE ROLE:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering: Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline
• 2+ years in a manufacturing environment supporting product introductions, equipment installation, and production/process support.
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Troubleshooting manufacturing processes
• Good writing and verbal communication skills
• Good MS Office skills and other engineering software

Visa Sponsorship for Continental/ContiTech employees only

Additional Ways To Stand Out

• Cross-functional experience e.g. in engineering, quality, supply chain or CBS preferred
• Comprehensive experience in Rubber and or Plastic production processes
• Troubleshooting rubber compound issues.
• Experience in working with international teams on production topics and understanding foreign cultures

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEO-Statement

EEO / AA / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [e-mail] or contact US Recruiting at 248.393.5566. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.