Technical Manager

Kaiser Aluminum; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Aluminum in Bellwood, VA seeks a Technical Manager (metallurgy focused) to oversee the transformation of cast heat-treatable aluminum billet into high-strength automotive tubing. You will lead a technical team, resolve metallurgical issues, and ensure process, history, and product conformance across the facility onsite.

The role requires deep heat-treat and metallurgical knowledge, leadership, and the ability to apply Lean Six Sigma, DOE, SPC, and problem-solving across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Engineering, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• 3+ years in labs/metallurgists and 5+ years metallurgy/process engineering.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and PC-based software.
• Ability to communicate technical issues across organizational levels.
• Ability to manage personnel from engineer to operator.
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma concepts and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Metallurgical & Process Authority; own thermal and mechanical processing for seamless aluminum tubing.
• Maintain compliance with AIAG, customer, and industry requirements.
• Review presses, heat treatment practices, and manufacturing methods.
• Lead root cause investigations and RCCA activities.
• Mentor engineers and train operators.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance for process improvements.

Skills

Metallurgy experience

Process engineering

Lean Six Sigma

Root cause analysis

DOE

Statistical analysis

Communication

Leadership

Quality systems

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Minitab

Statistical software

Job description

Kaiser Aluminum is known around the world for its superior quality. Our secret is what we put into it—innovative thinking, industry-leading reliability, and a world-class commitment to customer service. In short, the same qualities we look for in our people. We are looking for a Technical Manager (metallurgy focused) to join Kaiser Aluminum in Bellwood Virginia on the south side of Richmond!

The Technical Manager will oversee the integrated process converting cast heat-treatable aluminum billet into high-strength automotive tubing, ensuring alignment of process history, microstructure, dimensions, and performance. Lead a small technical team, resolve multistage metallurgical problems, develop plant expertise, and drive manufacturing development, design, implementation, and execution . Beyond a traditional Quality or Process Engineer, this role serves as the facility’s technical authority for seamless tube manufacturing and product knowledge, ensuring compliance with industry specifications while supporting production, customers, suppliers, and quality systems. Foster cross-department collaboration to implement successful process changes. This is an onsite position.

This is an onsite position. At this time, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role, either now or in the future. Therefore, we cannot move forward with candidates who would require sponsorship and or are on (e.g., H-1B, F-1, STEM OPT, OPT) visas.

What you will work on:

• Metallurgical & Process Authority
• Own thermal and mechanical processing for seamless aluminum tubing.
• Maintain compliance with AIAG, customer, and industry requirements.
• Review press recipes, draw plans, heat treatment practices, and manufacturing methods.
• Evaluate technical feasibility of new products and customer requirements.

Quality & Product Conformance

• Support testing programs and calibration systems.
• Investigate failures and implement corrective actions.
• Sign customer certifications.

Heat Treat & Thermal Process Management

• TUS (Thermal Uniformity Surveys)
• SAT (System Accuracy Tests)
• TIC (Thermal Instrument Calibration)

Successful candidate will be highly knowledgeable in heat-treat requirements and pyrometry controls.

Customer & Supplier Technical Support

• Lead customer complaint investigations.
• Provide technical support during customer visits and problem-solving activities.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Mentor Process Engineers.
• Train operators and technical personnel.
• Conduct competency evaluations.
• Influence quality and process improvements across the facility.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance departments with process improvements.
• Lead root cause investigations.
• Support RCCA activities.
• Analyze scrap, complaints, and audit findings.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma, DOE, SPC, and statistical analysis techniques.

Requirements

What you will bring to the position:

• Bachelors of Science in Engineering, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of three plus (3+) years of experience labs and metallurgists and five plus (5+) years metallurgy/process engineering experience.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive) and other PC based software programs.
• Ability to professionally communicate to parties inside and outside the organization at all organizational levels with regards to technical issues facing the facility.
• Ability to manage personnel from engineer to operator within department, and advise/coach personnel across the facility.
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma concepts and product/process quality systems techniques.

Preferred experience:

8-15 years in:

• Metal processing & manufacturing
• Heat treatment
• Automotive quality systems
• Metallurgical laboratory
• Process engineering

Preferred technical skills:

• Seamless tube manufacturing
• Metallography
• Mechanical property testing
• Automotive, & General Industry Material specifications
• Root cause analysis
• Design of Experiments
• Statistical process control
• Minitab or other statistical software
• Calibration systems
• Heat-treat furnace compliance

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About Kaiser Aluminum: Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.