Product Engineer

Kaiser Aluminum; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Paid family leave

401(k) with company match

Quarterly bonus

Job summary

Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane, Washington is seeking a Product Engineer with a metallurgy focus and background in aluminum or aerospace manufacturing to join onsite operations. This role serves as the technical conduit between customers and internal teams, requiring a U.S.

person status and strong metallurgical expertise. The position emphasizes quality, specification compliance, and collaborative problem solving, with a focus on development and process improvements across production and sales

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in metallurgy or materials science is required.
• Advanced Degree preferred.
• Five (5) years relevant experience in the aluminum or related (e.g., aerospace) industry (10+ years preferred).
• Strong PC skills, including Windows, Word, Excel, and various data collection and analysis packages to be self-sufficient in analysis and report writing.
• Clear understanding of specification and industry requirements.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work in teams.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical/metallurgical support to plant, inside sales, outside sales, and customer (direct and end user) personnel as required.
• Act as principal liaison between customer and plant on quality and technical issues.
• Develop and implement metallurgical practices as necessary to support efforts in product development, quality, recovery, etc.
• Provide quality assurance support. Disposition quarantined metal, claims, discrepant shipments, etc., as necessary in order to sustain "Best in Class" levels of quality and promote customer satisfaction.
• Perform manufacturing investigations on suspect product.
• Maintain compliance to customer and industry specifications. Ensure correct practices, sampling, testing, etc. are associated with each specification.
• Initiate and execute qualification programs where appropriate, as determined by plant capabilities, customer requirements, and market justification.
• Review and authorize requests for recertification.
• Monitor and audit (as required) vendor activities.
• Comply with all Safety, Quality, and Environmental Regulations.

Job description

Kaiser Aluminum is known around the world for its superior quality. Our secret is what we put into it—innovative thinking, industry-leading reliability, and a world-class commitment to customer service. In short, the same qualities we look for in our people. We are looking for a Product Engineer (metallurgy focused) to join the Kaiser Aluminum onsite team in Spokane Washington that has a background in aluminum or aerospace manufacturing and physical/mechanical metallurgy!

Must be a U.S. person (identified as U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card), any individual who is granted status as a “protected person” under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

• Salary range $100,000 to $130,000 commensurate with experience.
• High deductible medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, including spouse and children (modest payroll deductions).
• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Supplemental leave (used in conjunction with Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave).
• 401K with matching company funds.
• Quarterly bonus structure.

The Product Engineer serves as the primary technical and quality conduit between outside customers and internal sales, marketing, and production functions.

What you will work on:

• Provide technical/metallurgical support to plant, inside sales, outside sales, and customer (direct and end user) personnel as required.
• Act as principal liaison between customer and plant on quality and technical issues.
• Develop and implement metallurgical practices as necessary to support efforts in product development, quality, recovery, etc.
• Provide quality assurance support. Disposition quarantined metal, claims, discrepant shipments, etc., as necessary in order to sustain "Best in Class" levels of quality and promote customer satisfaction.
• Perform manufacturing investigations on suspect product.
• Maintain compliance to customer and industry specifications. Ensure correct practices, sampling, testing, etc. are associated with each specification. Review incoming specifications for acceptability withing existing metallurgical practices.
• Initiate and execute qualification programs where appropriate, as determined by plant capabilities, customer requirements, and market justification.
• Review and authorize requests for recertification.
• Monitor and audit (as required) vendor activities.
• Comply with all Safety, Quality, and Environmental Regulations.

What you will bring to the role:

• An undergraduate degree in metallurgy or materials science is required. Advanced Degree preferred.
• Five (5) years relevant experience in the aluminum or related (e.g., aerospace) industry (10+ years preferred).
• Excellent problem solving, investigative, experimental, and statistical analysis skills.
• Strong PC skills, including Windows, Word, Excel, and various data collection and analysis packages to be self-sufficient in analysis and report writing.
• Clear understanding of specification and industry requirements.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work in teams.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Approximately 90% of the job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. 10% of the job function is required in the plant. There is exposure to operating machinery and a manufacturing environment.

This position has been determined to be a safety-sensitive position and requires a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen that includes marijuana.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About Kaiser Aluminum:

Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.