Production Engineer

Guided Search Partners; North Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Guided Search Partners is hiring a Production Engineer for a growing plastics manufacturer in North Carolina. This role involves supporting production improvements and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration.

Ideal candidates will have an engineering degree and experience in plastics, alongside skills in AutoCAD and process improvement.

This position offers a chance to work on meaningful projects in a supportive and team-oriented culture.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required.
• Experience in plastics required.
• Process improvement experience preferred.
• 5S and gemba walk exposure helpful.
• Ability to work across departments.

Responsibilities

• Support production and process improvement efforts across the plant.
• Help manage changes in production needs and support larger projects.
• Drive 5S efforts and support safety improvement work.

Skills

Process improvement

Collaboration

Safety awareness

AutoCAD

WorkSUITE

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD

WorkSUITE

Job description

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships. We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a growing plastics manufacturer in North Carolina that is expanding both its team and production capabilities. This role evolved from a Process Engineer opening into a Production Engineer position to create more flexibility around plant needs, cross-functional support, and upcoming projects. This is a strong fit for an engineer who enjoys process improvement, working across departments, and helping a plant run better and safer. The role will support production changes, improvement projects, and plant initiatives tied to efficiency, safety, and growth.

What You’ll Do

Support production and process improvement efforts across the plant, including projects tied to customer changes, plant efficiency, and operational improvements. This role will help manage changes in production needs, support larger projects, and work across departments to keep initiatives moving forward. You’ll also help drive 5S efforts across the plant, support safety improvement work, review near misses, and look at the bigger picture around how processes impact team members and plant performance. AutoCAD, WorkSUITE, and other engineering platforms are part of the role.

Who You Are

You are an engineer who enjoys being part of the operation and working on practical improvements that support the plant. You can work across teams, think through problems from both a process and safety standpoint, and help bring structure to projects and improvement efforts. You are likely someone who values teamwork, wants to be in a welcoming culture, and enjoys an environment where departments work together closely.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Engineering degree required.
• Experience in plastics required; any plastics process may be considered.
• Process improvement experience preferred.
• 5S and gemba walk exposure helpful.
• AutoCAD experience required.
• Experience using WorkSUITE and other engineering platforms is relevant.
• Ability to work across departments and support plant-wide projects.

Why This Role Matters

This role supports a plant that is growing, adding jobs to more lines, starting up new extrusion equipment, and looking to add headcount. The right person will help improve production processes, support key projects, and contribute to plant safety and operational progress. It is a strong opportunity for someone who wants broad exposure, meaningful project work, and the chance to grow with a site that is investing in its future.