Staff, Process Eng

Smurfit Westrock; Alabama; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Training & development opportunities

Global packaging company environment

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Division Process Engineer to blend mill process knowledge with data analytics and digital tool deployment. You will work with operators, engineers, and leadership to reduce variability, waste, downtime, and cost while improving visibility and decision-making across the mill system.

You will travel up to 50% for onboarding and major mill deployments, lead cross-functional improvement projects, develop dashboards and data models using PI Vision, Qlik, and Power BI,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline related to process engineering.
• Experience in process/manufacturing engineering, operations, reliability, or related technical roles; heavy industrial experience preferred.
• Proven ability to analyze process data and translate findings into actionable improvements.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or similar problem-solving approaches.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize high-value process improvement opportunities with mill leadership.
• Analyze operating data to find performance gaps, trends, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Develop and sustain dashboards, reports, data models, and digital tools for operations.
• Support deployment of PI/PI Vision, Qlik, and Power BI across mills.
• Provide hands-on support during discovery, design, testing, and implementation.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects from definition to benefits realization.
• Coach engineers in data analysis, problem solving, and standard work.

Skills

Process engineering

Data analysis

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Industrial BI tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, electrical, industrial, paper science, or related engineering

Tools

PI System/PI Vision

Qlik

Power BI

SQL

Python

MES/ERP

Job description

Division Process Engineer

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE: SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers, and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward. Learn more at www.SmurfitWestrock.com

The opportunity:

The Division Process Engineer is a high-impact role that combines mill process knowledge, data and analytics, digital tool implementation, and hands-on project leadership. This engineer partners with mill teams and enterprise functions to reduce variability, waste, downtime, and cost while improving visibility and decision-making across the mill system.

The position supports both division-wide initiatives and site-specific improvement work. The successful candidate will spend time in mills, build strong relationships with operators and engineering teams, translate operating needs into practical solutions, and help sustain standard tools and work processes across multiple facilities. Travel up to 50% is expected, particularly during onboarding and major mill deployments.

How you will impact Smurfit Westrock:

• Partner with mill leadership, engineers, operators, reliability, quality, OpEx, Finance, IT, and other stakeholders to identify and prioritize high-value process improvement opportunities.
• Analyze operating and business data to identify performance gaps, root causes, trends, and opportunities related to throughput, OME, quality, waste, downtime, reliability, and cost.
• Develop, implement, and sustain standardized dashboards, reports, data models, and digital tools that turn mill information into clear operational actions.
• Support deployment and continuous improvement of tools such as PI/PI Vision, Qlik, Power BI, EKHO, DMSI MAINTelligence, XFRACAS, TwinThread, MES/Panther, and ERP-connected solutions as applicable.
• Provide boots-on-the-ground support during discovery, design, testing, commissioning, operator adoption, and post-implementation sustainment.
• Lead or support cross-functional improvement projects from problem definition through implementation, including scope, schedule, risks, actions, benefits, and stakeholder communication.
• Coach and mentor mill process and reliability engineers in data analysis, problem solving, standard work, tool use, and sustainable improvement practices.
• Create clear technical summaries, business cases, recommendations, and progress updates for mill and senior leadership.
• Document standard work, user guidance, training materials, calculations, data definitions, and ownership expectations to improve consistency across the division.
• Facilitate benchmarking and best-practice sharing across mills using standardized data, common definitions, and repeatable methods.
• Collaborate with application owners and technical teams to improve data quality, system usability, access, governance, and long-term support models.
• Support strategic initiatives and selected capital or technology projects that align with MTI priorities and long-term business objectives.
• Maintain a mill-first mindset by listening to users, validating solutions in the operating environment, and designing tools that are practical, reliable, and sustainable.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, electrical, industrial, paper science, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Relevant experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations, reliability, continuous improvement, project engineering, or a related technical role. Paper, pulp, power/recovery, or other heavy industrial experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze process data, solve ambiguous problems, and convert findings into practical recommendations and measurable actions.
• Working knowledge of process improvement, root cause analysis, statistical methods, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar problem-solving approaches.
• Experience leading projects or workstreams across multiple functions, with the ability to manage priorities, actions, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with operators, technical specialists, mill leadership, and executives.
• Ability to influence without direct authority, build trust across facilities, and drive adoption of common processes and tools.
• High initiative, curiosity, adaptability, and comfort working independently in a fast-changing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Experience with industrial data historians, visualization platforms, business intelligence tools, MES, ERP, or advanced analytics is strongly preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, particularly during onboarding and major mill deployments.

What will make you stand out:

• Hands-on operating or engineering experience in a paper mill or similar continuous-process manufacturing environment.
• Experience with PI System/PI Vision, Qlik, Power BI, SQL, Python, advanced process monitoring, machine learning, or industrial analytics.
• Experience developing centerlines, operator tools, standard reports, benchmarking methods, or condition-monitoring solutions.
• Experience implementing and sustaining technology across multiple manufacturing sites.
• A track record of quantifying business value and sustaining improvements after initial implementation.

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
• Broad exposure to mill operations, enterprise initiatives, digital manufacturing tools, and cross-functional leadership.

Smurfit Westrock Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce: Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.