Senior Process Development Engineer

Location: Greenville, SC

106 level

Reports to Manager Production Engineering

This position is responsible for defining/monitoring the overall design process and implementation of custom automated manufacturing machines developed by the Mechatronics group.  The person filling this job contributes to the group’s mission to support the optimization of manufacturing technology, equipment, and assets in our worldwide manufacturing facilities.

The Process Engineer works with internal customers in a multi-location business to document user requirements and equipment specifications.  Based on those documented requirements, the Process Engineer will create, iterate, and document all necessary elements to track project plans for custom built machines.  The engineer works closely with the internal customer, machine shop personnel, CAD engineer, suppliers, outside machine shops/service providers, and senior management to establish the project plan, work breakdown structure, and financial estimates.  The engineer takes responsibility to manage the project to meet business objectives.  Changes in scope are socialized and agreed upon to assess impact to time and budget. 

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work both independently as well as with others in a team environment.  Candidates should be highly organized, possess a good work ethic, be safety conscious, and self-motivated with a proven capacity to multi-task.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy, strong attention to detail and a professional demeanor, with the ability to keep a cool head in stressful situations is desired.

Essential Duties and Accountabilities:

• Work with internal customers to detailed specifications that satisfy all parties involved.
• Develop and track detailed project plan that satisfies specification requirements, financials, and timing.
• Conceptualize and prototype novel assembly and inspection for manufacturing processes and automated testing machines for life and function testing of automotive products
• Facilitate machine qualification runs to demonstrate abilities both in Greenville and at final location.
• Support internal customer until performance is satisfactory.  May be called upon to support installed equipment operation or upgrade.
• Obtain process data from internal customers to assess the design success and/or opportunities for improvement
• Recommend process and equipment improvements based on findings of root cause analysis
• Manage own project tasks and activities to meet project schedule and budget goals

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Job knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• General knowledge and experience with automation, assembly machines, test equipment, and machine tools
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and solve problems with automated equipment in manufacturing facilities
• Knowledge of automatic assembly & inspection processes
• Experience with automated discrete part material handling systems
• 5+ years of experience with automated discrete part material handling systems (e.g., dial table, walking beam)
• Knowledge and experience with non-destructive testing technologies (e.g., eddy current, vision)
• Solid modeling experience preferred
• Understanding of tolerancing
• Machine tool design experience preferred
• Fluency with Pro Engineer and AutoCAD preferred
• Excellent Project management skills
• Self-starter with the initiative to conceptualize and develop next generation machinery within JTEKT organization

Education and Experience:

Engineering degree preferred

5+ years of experience in manufacturing field

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is mostly performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, and with substantial time spent working on a computer.  Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• The performance of this position will require exposure to manufacturing areas which require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection.
• Travel by automobile and plane required approximately 20% of time.