Senior Process Engineer, Body Shop

Slate; Warsaw (IN); On-site; USD 96,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety-first culture

Relentless improvement

Team collaboration

Job summary

Slate seeks a Process Engineer for the body shop to sustain and optimize manufacturing processes, driving efficiency, quality, and safety on the production line in the United States. You will lead running changes, conduct time studies, and work with Quality, Maintenance, and Operations to resolve issues and improve throughput.

The role requires 6–8 years in process engineering within manufacturing, preferably automotive body assembly, and a strong background in Lean/Six Sigma tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 6-8 years of experience in process engineering within a manufacturing environment; automotive body assembly experience highly preferred.
• Proven experience in production support, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with expertise in root cause analysis.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in process analysis tools and production data systems.

Responsibilities

• Monitor day-to-day production operations on the body line to ensure stability, quality, and throughput targets are met.
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce downtime, scrap, and rework.
• Manage and execute running changes with minimal disruption to production schedules.
• Conduct time studies, bottleneck analysis, and capacity assessments to optimize production flow.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Dimensional, and Maintenance teams to address process issues promptly and effectively.
• Gather feedback from operators, team leaders, and supervisors to identify pain points and develop practical solutions.
• Support quality investigations, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure all processes meet established quality standards and customer requirements.
• Monitor key process parameters and take proactive action to prevent defects.
• Partner with the quality team to implement best practices for inspection, measurement, and process control.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain safe operating procedures for equipment and processes.
• Promote a safety-first culture within the production environment.
• Maintain up-to-date process documentation, standard operating procedures, and work instructions.
• Track and report process performance metrics and improvement results to management.
• Document all changes to processes and ensures change management procedures are followed.

Skills

Process optimization

Root cause analysis

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Production data systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Six Sigma tools

Process analysis tools

Job description

About Slate

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The Process Engineer for the body shop is responsible for sustaining, optimizing and improving existing manufacturing processes for vehicle body assembly. This role focuses on supporting daily production, driving efficiency and quality improvements, managing running changes, and providing solutions to plant-floor challenges while ensuring safe and compliant operations.

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO:

Production Process Support & Improvement

• Monitor day-to-day production operations on the body line to ensure stability, quality, and throughput targets are met.
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce downtime, scrap, and rework.
• Manage and execute running changes with minimal disruption to production schedules.
• Conduct time studies, bottleneck analysis, and capacity assessments to optimize production flow.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Production, Quality, Dimensional, and Maintenance teams to address process issues promptly and effectively.
• Gather feedback from operators, team leaders, and supervisors to identify pain points and develop practical solutions.
• Support quality investigations, lead root cause analysis, and drive corrective and preventive actions.

Quality & Reliability

• Ensure all processes meet established quality standards and customer requirements.
• Monitor key process parameters and take proactive action to prevent defects.
• Partner with the quality team to implement best practices for inspection, measurement, and process control.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain safe operating procedures for equipment and processes.
• Promote a safety-first culture within the production environment.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain up-to-date process documentation, standard operating procedures, and work instructions.
• Track and report process performance metrics and improvement results to management.
• Document all changes to processes and ensures change management procedures are followed.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 6-8 years of experience in process engineering within a manufacturing environment; automotive body assembly experience highly preferred.
• Proven experience in production support, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with expertise in root cause analysis.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in process analysis tools and production data systems.

SALARY RANGE:

The compensation for this position is the range Slate reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including job-related knowledge; skillset; experience, education and training; certifications; work location; and other relevant business and organizational factors.

Base Pay Range (Annual)

96,333.00 - 144,499.00 USD Annual

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE?

• Safety First
• Delight Customers
• One Team
• Relentless Improvement
• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
• Respectful Collaboration
• Positive Legacy

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE.

Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff...

We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].