Job Description

Attention Process Engineers! Now Hiring …

Looking forward to your next big opportunity?

Whelan Machine is growing, and we want YOU to join our team!

We’re proud to be part of the Department of Defense (DoD) and offer you a chance to work in an exciting, fast-paced industry.

Supporting the mission with world-class precision is at the heart of what we do.

Whelan Machine is a mission-critical supplier of high-precision machining for the U.S defense industrial base. We offer quarterly incentive pay and the opportunity to work in our new and improved 70,000-square foot facility!

• Competitive pay
• Great benefits
• Quarterly incentive pays
• A workplace that values YOUR skill and growth
• Be part of the DoD and helping make a difference
• Supporting the mission with world-class precision
• Brand-new 70,000 sq. ft. facility

Our mission is to build a world-class team of skilled professionals, and we want YOU to be a part of it.

If you're in Louisville or nearby, don't miss this opportunity!

Apply today and become part of the Whelan family.

Scope:

The Process Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing manufacturing processes to improve quality, reduce costs, and increase production efficiency. This role serves as a technical resource for the plant floor, driving continuous improvement initiatives and supporting new product introductions across all production areas.

Duties and Responsibilites:

Process Development & Optimization

• Design, develop, and validate manufacturing processes for new and existing products.
• Analyze current processes to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and root causes of defects.
• Lead process improvement projects using Lean, Six Sigma, and other CI methodologies.
• Establish and maintain process documentation including SOPs, work instructions, and control plans.
• Define and monitor critical process parameters and key performance indicators (KPI’s).

Quality & Compliance

• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to resolve non-conformances and implement corrective actions.
• Support internal and external audits; ensure processes meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Develop and execute Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEA’s).
• Maintain GMP, AS, ISO, or IATF compliance as applicable to the facility.

Capital & Equipment

• Identify capital equipment needs and prepare business justifications and ROI analyses.
• Lead installation, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), and validation of new equipment and tooling.
• Collaborate with maintenance on preventive maintenance programs and equipment reliability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• - Partner with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and R&D teams on new product launches (NPI/NPI).- Provide technical training to operators and technicians on process changes and best practices.
  • Support cost reduction initiatives through material yield improvement and scrap reduction.
  • Participate in APQP, PPAP, or equivalent product launch processes as required.

Work Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree or MBA a plus.

Skills & Qualification:

• 3–7 years of process engineering experience in a manufacturing environment (discrete, process, or hybrid).
• Demonstrated success leading process improvement projects with measurable results.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC), DOE, FMEA, and root cause analysis tools.
• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) preferred.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Lean Manufacturing certification.
• PMP or equivalent project management credential.

Physical Demands:The physical demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee sits, stands, uses hands, arms and fingers to perform routine tasks. Normal vision and hearing and the ability to communicate effectively to others in person or via written communication (in English) is needed. Basic business math skills are required. This position will usually be worked in the warehouse which may occasionally have various odors and noise emanating from the warehouse. This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with this job. While this list is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position, the company reserves the right to revise the functions and duties of the job or to increase or decrease the scope of responsibilities when circumstances dictate, as determined by the owners.