Process Engineer R & D

Owens Corning; West Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401k with company contribution

Paid time off

Job summary

Owens Corning is seeking an R&D Process Engineer in West Chicago, Illinois. This hands-on role focuses on developing and scaling new materials and processes for wood fiber and composite door products. You will be responsible for leading the transition from lab validation to full-scale manufacturing, ensuring process effectiveness and compliance. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience. Competitive salary plus extensive benefits provided.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in process development or manufacturing engineering.
• Demonstrated experience scaling processes from lab or pilot to production.
• Proven ability to work hands-on in manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead scale-up of new formulations and processes to full-scale production.
• Diagnose and resolve process instability and quality defects.
• Provide direct technical support to manufacturing teams during trials.

Skills

Process development

Root-cause analysis

Statistical analysis

Technical writing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or related field

Tools

DOE

SPC

Six Sigma

Job description

Purpose of the Job
The R&D Process Engineer (MPI) is a hands‑on technical role responsible for developing, scaling, and industrializing new materials, formulations, and manufacturing processes for wood fiber and composite door products. This role sits at the critical interface between R&D and Operations, owning the transition from lab and pilot validation to full‑scale manufacturing, while ensuring process robustness, safety, quality, and cost effectiveness. Success in this role requires strong experimental discipline, plant‑level troubleshooting capability, and the ability to translate data into executable manufacturing solutions.

Job Responsibilities

Process & Technology Development

• Lead scale‑up of new formulations, materials, and processes from lab and pilot equipment to full‑scale production lines.
• Translate R&D learnings into manufacturing‑ready process windows, control plans, and operating standards.

Data‑Driven Problem Solving & Optimization

• Lead structured root‑cause analysis using DOE, SPC, Six Sigma, and Lean methodologies.
• Diagnose and resolve process instability, quality defects, yield loss, and throughput limitations.
• Design, execute, and document plant trials, including clear hypotheses, success criteria, and conclusions.
• Use statistical and process data to drive decisions, not assumptions.

Manufacturing & Plant Interface

• Provide direct technical support to manufacturing teams during trials, startups, and sustained production.
• Partner with Operations to implement process improvements, debottlenecking, and other process‑related initiatives.
• Ensure smooth transfer from development into operations, including training, documentation, and risk mitigation.
• Travel to manufacturing sites as needed to support trials and troubleshooting.

Safety, Compliance & Sustainability

• Ensure all development and manufacturing activities comply with Owens Corning safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Embed Design for Safety and risk assessment into all new process development.

Project Execution & Collaboration

• Manage process development and capital projects from concept through implementation, owning end‑to‑end execution of process development and scale‑up projects.
• Plan and execute plant trials and process changes, coordinating resources, materials, equipment availability, and cross‑functional support.
• Track and manage project risks, assumptions, and dependencies, escalating issues early with clear data‑based recommendations.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with R&D, Design, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, and Sourcing.
• Communicate technical results clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including leadership.
• Ensure projects transition smoothly from development into operations with clear documentation, training, and ownership handoff.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in process development, manufacturing engineering, or industrial R&D.
• Demonstrated experience scaling processes from lab or pilot to production.
• Strong working knowledge of DOE, SPC, and structured problem‑solving tools.
• Proven ability to work hands‑on in manufacturing environments, not just in labs.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with wood fiber, composites, polymers, resins, adhesives, or press‑based manufacturing.
• Familiarity with continuous or batch manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting plant trials, startups, or technology transfers.
• Background in lean manufacturing or Six Sigma.
• Comfort working in ambiguity and early‑stage development environments.

Compensation and Benefits
The base salary range for this position is $78,000 to $100,000, with the potential for an additional 10+% for applicants with additional qualifications. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, disability, supplemental offerings, 401k with company contribution and match, paid time off, Employee Assistance Services, Stock Purchase Program, and more.

Owens Corning is an equal‑opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.