Process Engineer - Cast House

Norsk Hydro; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Rx, Dental, Disability, Life

Retirement Savings Plans with Company

Education Assistance

Bonus Plan Eligibility

Parental Leave

Job summary

Norsk Hydro in Phoenix is seeking a Cast House Process Engineer to optimize aluminum melting, alloying, casting, and related processes. You will drive safety, efficiency, and cost improvements while supporting operations, maintenance, quality, and HSE teams.

The role emphasizes process stability, standardization, and continuous improvement with a focus on reducing scrap, improving metal recovery, and equipment reliability across shifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical, Chemical, or related field.
• 3–5 years of process/manufacturing engineering in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Must be English speaking; Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Use manufacturing and process data to identify root causes, implement improvements, and evaluate sustained impact on quality, reliability, downtime, and throughput.
• Analyze and optimize aluminum melting, holding, alloying, metal treatment, and casting processes to improve performance.
• Monitor critical process parameters (furnace temps, melt rates, cycle times, metal chemistry) and identify trends and improvements.
• Identify opportunities to improve metal recovery, reduce dross, minimize melt loss and scrap, and increase production efficiency.
• Develop and maintain standardized operating procedures and process control parameters.
• Evaluate process capability to improve casting consistency and billet quality.
• Provide technical support for furnace operations, casting equipment, and molten metal transfer.
• Support introduction of new alloys, process technologies, and equipment improvements.

Skills

SPC

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Process optimization

Metallurgy knowledge

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering

Tools

SPC software

Quality management systems

Statistical analysis tools

Job description

Hydro Extrusions is a world-leading aluminium extrusion business counting around 100 production sites in 40 countries and employing 20,000 people. Through our unique combination of local expertise, global network, and unmatched R&D capabilities, we can offer everything from standards profiles to advanced development and manufacturing for most industries. Since 1905, Hydro has turned natural resources into valuable products for people and businesses with focus on a safe and good workplace for our 30,000 employees in more than 140 locations.

What we offer you

• Medical, Rx, Dental, Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Savings Plans with Company Match/Contributions
• Education Assistance
• Bonus Plan Eligibility
• Parental Leave

Job Summary:

The Cast House Process Engineer is a dedicated engineering resource supporting process performance and continuous improvement within the Phoenix Cast House. The role is responsible for optimizing aluminum melting, alloying, casting, and related manufacturing processes to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations. This position provides technical expertise and engineering support to improve metal recovery, product quality, equipment reliability, and overall cast house performance. The Process Engineer will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and HSE teams to identify process improvement opportunities, troubleshoot production challenges, reduce scrap, and implement sustainable solutions that support Hydro's operational excellence objectives. This position plays a critical role in driving process stability, standardization, and continuous improvement while maintaining compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards.

What you will be doing

• Use manufacturing and process data to identify root causes, implement improvements, and evaluate whether changes are delivering sustainable improvements in quality, reliability, downtime, and throughput.
• Analyze and optimize aluminum melting, holding, alloying, metal treatment, and casting processes to improve operational performance.
• Monitor and analyze critical process parameters, including furnace temperatures, melt rates, casting temperatures, cycle times, and metal chemistry, using production data to identify trends, improvement opportunities, and measurable results.
• Identify opportunities to improve metal recovery, reduce dross generation, minimize melt loss, reduce scrap and downtime, improve quality, and increase production efficiency.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized operating procedures and process control parameters.
• Evaluate process capability and identify improvements to increase casting consistency and billet quality.
• Provide technical support for furnace operations, casting equipment, molten metal transfer, and related processes.
• Support the introduction of new alloys, process technologies, and equipment improvements, including equipment installation, layout, startup, and process optimization activities.

Required Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field required.
• 3–5 years of process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related experience in an industrial manufacturing environment required.
• Must be English speaking, Spanish is a plus.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of industrial manufacturing equipment, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems, process controls, and manufacturing quality systems.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC), process capability analysis, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving tools.
• Knowledge of aluminum alloys, metallurgy, solidification, and casting defect prevention.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and automotive manufacturing quality requirements.
• Experience supporting capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and process automation.
• Demonstrated experience in process optimization, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret manufacturing data and implement measurable improvements.
• Strong communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in an industrial manufacturing environment and provide technical support across production shifts as needed.

Equal opportunities

Hydro in North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer where all phases of employment are based strictly upon the qualifications of the individual as related to the work requirements of the position. This policy is applied without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, marital status or any other category protected by law. We strive to provide equal opportunities for all to contribute and succeed with us. As part of our recruitment process, we may use job‑related assessments in selected roles. These tools help us better understand work‑related strengths and support a fair and consistent hiring process. Any assessment results are reviewed together with your experience, qualifications, and interviews, and are never used as the sole basis for hiring decisions. If you need an accommodation in order to complete the application, please contact Hydro Recruiting via email at [e-mail]