Manufacturing, Building Materials, ConstructionIndustries
Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, or Polymer Engineering, or equivalent from an ABET accredited program; advanced degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of work experience in engineering with focus on materials research and development
Currently residing in or near Bristol, TN; Marion, VA; or Columbus, OH, or willing to relocate to the area
Willing to travel up to 25% to support other Westlake sites, including international travel (valid passport required)
Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships across a diverse organization
Ability to define problems, execute test trials, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and build consensus amongst a diverse technical and operational team
Strong communication and persuasion skills working at all levels of an organization
Six Sigma green/black belt and knowledge of DOE, DMAIC, Fishbone, 5-Why, FMEA, statistical analysis, etc. preferred
Strong data and analytical skills for business, science, and technical problems
Detail-oriented with the ability to catch minor errors which can result in major problems
Organizational skills for keeping track of various budgets, employees, and schedules simultaneously
Responsibilities
Lead a high-performing team of eight technicians, scientists, and engineers supporting eleven siding and trim manufacturing sites with laboratories in Bristol, TN; Marion, VA; Columbus, OH; and Woodbridge, ON
Cultivate a safety-first culture within the materials engineering team, proactively identifying and mitigating risks in both engineering practices and laboratory facilities; ensure all initiatives align with and surpass Westlake, local, state, and federal regulations
Assume ownership of the science behind product development and manufacturing of siding and siding systems; stay abreast of evolving technologies and market trends in siding manufacturing
Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the materials engineering domain, driving the design and implementation of enhancements in materials technology leading to superior product performance
Develop standard work and structured processes for evaluating, scaling, and implementing materials changes across multiple production platforms
Develop a culture of data-driven decision making utilizing statistical methodologies to ensure complete and efficient evaluation of materials changes and their impact on key manufacturing requirements
Interface with internal and external customers and stakeholders to identify technical areas for innovation, develop new products, and solve a variety of production-related issues
Partner with R&D and Manufacturing in leveraging gated processes to bring new ideas, concepts, and technologies to market
Perform other duties as assigned to support the business