Product Engineer

kaisercareers; Spokane Valley (WA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K with matching

Bonus program

Tuition reimbursement

Holidays

Vacation

Supplemental leave

Job summary

Kaiser Aluminum in the United States seeks a Product Engineer to serve as the primary technical conduit between customers and internal teams. You will provide metallurgical expertise, support quality initiatives, and act as the main liaison on technical issues with customers and production.

The role requires an undergraduate degree in metallurgy or materials science and 5 years of aluminum industry experience, with potential for 10+ years.

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant experience in aluminum or related industry; 10+ years preferred.
• Excellent problem solving, investigative, experimental, and statistical analysis skills.
• Project management experience.
• 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 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.

Skills

Problem solving

Project management

Communication skills

Teamwork

Analytical skills

Windows

Word

Excel

Data analysis

Education

Undergraduate degree in metallurgy or materials science

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Windows

Word

Excel

Data analysis packages

Job description

REPORTS TO: Project Engineering - Manager

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SUPERVISES: None

Benefits

• Salary range $100,000-$130,000 per year depending on experience
• High deductible medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, including spouse and children (modest payroll deductions)
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation - 3 weeks
• Supplemental leave (used in conjunction with Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave)
• 401K with matching company funds
• Quarterly bonus structure
• Tuition reimbursement

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

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Product Engineer’s essential functions include:

• 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.

EDUCATION

An undergraduate degree in metallurgy or materials science is required. Advanced Degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE

This individual will possess:

• 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.
• Project management experience.
• 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.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

This individual will:

• Be energetic, disciplined and focused on a team building operational organization.
• Have well developed interpersonal and business partnering skills, with the ability to quickly adapt to, be accepted by, and interrelate with the organization at all levels.
• Be willing to work flexible hours

PERFORMANCE FACTORS

• Attendance and Dependability: The employee can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.
• Communication and Contact: The employee communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the Company.
• Relationships with Others: The employee works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the Company. The employee exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships.

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.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Refer to training matrix on file with Quality Department.

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

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).

No third-party candidate submissions are being accepted at this time for this opening.

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.