Production Engineer

AUSTIN POWDER COMPANY; Red Diamond (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder seeks a Production Engineer to provide technical and operational support for the PETN manufacturing process. You will report to the PETN Plant Manager and serve as the designated backup, focusing on optimizing processes, reducing variability, improving productivity, and supporting long-term growth and safety.

You will lead investigations, mentor operators, and collaborate with maintenance to resolve equipment issues while driving continuous improvement across the PETN department.

Qualifications

• Technical degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical).
• Minimum 3 years in manufacturing, chemical processing, or industrial production, explosives experience preferred.
• Experience leading continuous improvement projects and RCA.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary technical resource for PETN operations and real-time troubleshooting.
• Back up PETN Plant Manager and provide leadership during absences.
• Identify bottlenecks, quality concerns, and process inefficiencies with operators and supervisors.
• Monitor production metrics and lead continuous improvement projects.
• Develop, implement, and track process improvements for safety and capacity.
• Analyze data to identify recurring issues and corrective actions.
• Evaluate process constraints to support production execution and efficiency.
• Lead investigations of upsets, deviations, quality issues, and equipment failures.
• Collaborate with Maintenance/Reliability to address chronic issues and asset performance.
• Participate in MOC, PHA, and PSM activities; update procedures and training materials.
• Identify capital opportunities to enhance safety and efficiency; mentor operators and supervisors.
• Support budget, planning, and strategic PETN department initiatives.

Skills

Process optimization

Lean & Six Sigma

Root Cause Analysis

PSM/MOC familiarity

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

Education

Engineering degree (BS/MS)

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family.

Job Summary

The Production Engineer is responsible for providing technical and operational support to the PETN manufacturing process. Reporting directly to the PETN Plant Manager, this position serves as the designated backup. The role focuses on optimizing processes, reducing variability, improving productivity, and supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of the business.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as the primary technical resource for PETN operations, providing real-time support for production issues, process deviations, equipment challenges, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Act as the backup to the PETN Plant Manager, providing leadership and decision-making support during manager absences or as delegated.
• Work directly with operators and supervisors to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve production bottlenecks, quality concerns, and process inefficiencies.
• Monitor production performance metrics and identify opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement projects.
• Develop, implement, and track process improvement initiatives that improve safety, production capacity, and operational effectiveness.
• Analyze production data and operating trends to identify recurring issues and establish sustainable corrective actions.
• Support production execution by evaluating process constraints and recommending operational improvements.
• Lead investigations of operational upsets, process deviations, quality issues, and equipment failures.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Reliability teams to identify chronic equipment issues and improve asset performance.
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), and Process Safety Management (PSM) activities.
• Assist in developing and updating operating procedures, process documentation, and operator training materials.
• Identify and evaluate capital improvement opportunities that increase safety, reliability, capacity, or operational efficiency.
• Provide technical mentoring and coaching to operators and supervisors to increase process knowledge and operational capability.
• Support annual budget, production planning, and strategic improvement initiatives for the PETN department.

Education and Experience

• Technical Degree (BS, MS) in Engineering; Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical
• Minimum 3 years of manufacturing, chemical processing, explosives manufacturing, or industrial production experience.
• Experience leading continuous improvement projects.
• Experience conducting Root Cause Analysis and process troubleshooting.
• Experience supervising or coordinating technical and operational teams is preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, process flow, and production system in a highly regulated industrial environment.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex production, process, and equipment issues and identify practical, sustainable solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret production data, identify trends, and implement corrective actions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Root Cause Analysis, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM), Management of Change (MOC), risk assessment, and operational compliance requirements.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple competing production issues in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with operators, maintenance personnel, supervisors, engineers, quality personnel, and site leadership.
• Ability to provide technical coaching and mentorship to operations personnel while fostering employee development and engagement.
• Working knowledge of industrial equipment, process control systems, and manufacturing reliability principles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Power BI, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, operating procedures, and engineering documentation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Ability to function as the designated backup to the PETN Plant Manager, including supporting daily operational decision-making, workforce coordination, and production execution.
• Commitment to promoting culture where safety, environmental compliance, product quality, and operational excellence are fundamental expectations.

Work Environment

This position requires minimal travel. 80% of time will be spent in all areas of the plant, both indoors and outdoors, in all-weather elements.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Aff…? The full equal‑opportunity statement follows, detailing the company's commitment to non‑discrimination and E‑Verify participation. This paragraph remains exactly as in the original posting.

We also provide a second identical equal‑opportunity paragraph, verbatim as originally posted.

Third identical equal‑opportunity paragraph, verbatim as originally posted.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑1.4(a), 60‑300.5(a) and 60‑741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true around the globe as the company has expanded to be one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.