Senior Process Engineer - Foundry Engineering

J&T; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

J&T in Spokane, WA seeks a Foundry Engineering Manager to act as the primary technical problem solver across molding, melting, and finishing. The role leads pattern shop and foundry engineering, driving scrap reduction and quality improvements through data-driven methods.

The successful candidate has 5+ years in foundry engineering with hands-on white iron/steel casting experience, pattern design skills, and a strong Lean mindset. This is a high-impact leadership, hands-on engineering position.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of foundry engineering experience, with direct hands-on experience in white iron and/or steel casting.
• Hands-on leadership role focused on reducing scrap, improving casting quality, and increasing throughput.
• Experience with pattern and method design (gating, risering, solidification).
• Ability to apply statistical methods to analyze processes and defects.
• Leadership of the foundry engineering staff and cross-functional coaching.

Responsibilities

• Act as the foundry's primary technical problem solver to drive throughput and quality.
• Review scrap and rework reports to reduce scrap and identify root causes.
• Collaborate with molding and melting managers to improve casting quality and reduce finishing.
• Drive pattern and method design to improve yield.
• Identify critical control points and implement corrective actions.
• Manage the foundry engineering staff.
• Provide technical support to departments inside and outside the foundry.
• Support new product development by translating customer requirements into producible casting and method designs.
• Recommend improvements to foundry equipment and facilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Foundry engineering

Pattern design

Root-cause analysis

Lean manufacturing

Casting quality

Scrap reduction

Metallurgical background

Education

BS in Metallurgical Engineering

BS in Materials Science

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a Foundry Engineering Manager to serve as the foundry’s primary technical problem solver. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on reducing scrap, improving casting quality, and increasing throughput across molding, melting, and finishing. The role leads the pattern shop and foundry engineering function and provides technical recommendations to department managers and senior leadership.

This is a technical role centered on root-cause problem solving and process improvement. It is not a quality-systems or QMS administration position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Acts as the foundry’s primary technical problem solver, using metallurgical analysis and foundry experience to drive throughput and quality across molding, melting, and finishing.
  
• Reviews scrap and rework reports to identify root cause and drive measurable, sustained scrap reduction.
  
• Works closely with the molding manager and melting manager to improve casting quality and reduce downstream finishing. Coaches molding and melting teams on practices that improve as-cast quality.
  
• Drives pattern and method design (gating, risering, solidification) to improve yield and reduce finishing requirements.
  
• Identifies critical control points in the foundry process that drive defects or quality loss, and implements corrective action.
  
• Reduces consumption of foundry consumables (chemicals, sleeves, filters, refractories, and similar) without compromising casting quality.
  
• Manages the foundry engineering staff.
  
• Applies statistical methods and engineering calculations to analyze processes and defects and to establish technically sound process standards.
  
• Provides technical support to departments both inside and outside the foundry.
  
• Supports new product development, including translating customer requirements into producible casting and method designs.
  
• Recommends improvements to foundry equipment and facilities.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Knowledge and Skills

• BS in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field. Foundry metallurgy background preferred.
  
• Minimum 5 years of foundry engineering experience, with direct hands-on experience in white iron and/or steel casting.
  
• Demonstrated experience with pattern and method design, including gating, risering, and solidification.
  
• Strong, metrics-driven root-cause problem-solving skills, including casting defect analysis and scrap reduction.
  
• Detailed knowledge of Lean Manufacturing a plus.