Process Engineer- Plastic Extrusion

Pexco; Athol (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pexco in Athol, MA is seeking a Tooling Engineer to design tooling and develop extrusion processes for profiles and tubes, driving quality and productivity improvements. You will work with Manufacturing, QC, Materials and Sales to deliver first articles on time and meet customer expectations.

The role requires a BS in engineering, 3–5 years in plastics/extrusion tooling, proficiency with AutoCAD/CAD/CAM, and strong communication. On-site work with occasional cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering required.
• 3–5 years in plastic extrusion die design and process development.
• Understanding of different plastic resins and processing.
• Proficient with AutoCAD and CAD/CAM software.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Microsoft Office suite experience (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Design tooling and develop processes for mono and co-extrusion plastic profiles, tubes and secondary fabrication.
• Lead new tooling development projects to meet customer expectations with on-time samples.
• Coordinate tooling needs with Die Development and production staff to obtain first article samples.
• Oversee tool making in the machine shop and ensure designs meet criteria and standards.
• Act as systems analyst for the machine shop and coordinate with outside vendors.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Production, QC, Materials and Supply Chain to optimize tooling.
• Work on continuous improvement projects to reduce scrap and increase efficiencies.
• Maintain engineering database and documentation.

Skills

Extrusion tooling

Process development

Technical drawings

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

BS in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

CAD/CAM

Job description

Location: Athol, MA (764 South Athol Road, Athol, MA 01331, USA)

Scope of Role: This position is responsible for design and manufacture of profile extrusion tooling and development of custom processes with the objective of improving total quality, material usage and productivity. They will work closely with Manufacturing, QC, Materials, and Sales teams to achieve these common team objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintains compliance with the Company and plant safety policies and procedures.
• Completes all annual training as required.
• Design tooling and develop processes for mono and co-extrusion plastic profiles, tubes and secondary fabrication individually or with other Process Engineers.
• Lead new tooling development process for the project assigned using hands‑on approach to meet customer expectations with quality and on‑time delivery of samples.
• Partners with other staff members; production, maintenance and QC to develop the process to get first article samples approved.
• Coordinate the tooling needs for new products with Die Development, technicians, Production Manager and other involved in producing first article samples.
• Oversee the tool making activities in the machine shop and ensure the tools produced by the machine shop can meet the design criteria and are up to the company’s high standard for design and workmanship.
• Serve in the role of systems analyst for the machine shop and coordinating the company’s contact in this area with outside vendors.
• Coordinate the tool making activities in the machine shop and work closely with other engineers and VP of Engineering to establish priorities for the shop to ensure that the tooling delivered to the line is complete.
• Work with Supply Chain Manager to coordinate the procurement needs for the machine shop, including steel, other metals, and shop supplies.
• Support other department and Pexco sites in their tooling needs. Actively seek ways to improvise process efficiencies by way of redevelopment in the shortest possible lead time and most effective design.
• Troubleshoot process difficulties on a daily basis and support production.
• Work with Production Manager to coordinate a timely response to the need for rebuilding tooling or handling other special tooling needs that cannot be planned for in advance.
• Work on continuous improvement projects for efficiencies and reduce scrap.

Other Key Elements

• Plan, develop and coordinate tool development trials.
• Maintain engineering database and documentation as required.
• Think outside the box.
• Perform other accountabilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering
• 3 – 5 years of plastic manufacturer experience, preferably with plastic extrusion die design and process development
• Understand different plastic resins and processing.
• Proficient usage of AutoCAD and CAD/CAM software.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects with keen attention to detail independently or with supervision.
• Above average communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.
• Working Knowledge of Microsoft Office based software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

Physical Demands

• Moving and lifting objects up to 50 lbs.
• Walking, standing on concrete 8+ hrs/day with safety boots/shoes on.
• Sitting/working at a workstation.
• Manufacturing environment with machinery noise, occasional odors of coolant, oils and machined metals. Climate may be cold or hot depending on outside temperature.
• Exposed to dust, odors, fumes and noise associated with the extrusion and fabrication manufacturing processes.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.