Pilot Operations Process Engineer

Pilot Operations Process Engineer
Location: Munhall, PA Posted Date: November 15, 2014
Employer: To view company name. See instructions below Apply By: January 14, 2015
Employer Job Id: CareerMine Job Id: 1144989

Coordinate, with Simulators & Pilot Operations section manager and 8 to 10 Research technicians, the pilot production of two vacuum induction melting furnaces, a hot rolling mill, two cold/temper mills, a 2016 start-up pilot processing line and associated sample preparation and test equipment and instruments. Supervise trials to achieve the customers’ requests for finish hot rolling of sheet products and rolling and tempering of tubular products; these may include using variable coiling temperatures and spray cooling, and multiple furnaces. Hot Rolling processing includes future continuous caster spray cooling simulations. Use metallurgical knowledge and trials to adjust processing, even when the steel alloy physical properties (thermal conductivity, phase transformations) are not yet known. Facilitate Continuous Improvement for safety, productivity and quality, including a new function of A2LA-certified steel composition analyses. Coordinate with Product Development, Coating & Annealing Processes and Steelmaking & Casting project engineers. A small percentage of travel may be required to conduct field verifications of pilot processing.

Key Responsibilities (for non-exempt jobs, indicate approximate percentage of time spent on each responsibility):

Coordinate pilot production (2 melt shops, hot rolling, 2 cold rolling mills, 1 pilot process line)
Review processing requests from customers versus physical processing capabilities
Mentor on Continuous Improvement of Safety, Productivity and Quality
Mentor on achieving certified capability to test full steel composition for lab heats, maintaining calibration of critical sensors and tools
Involvement with CAPEX implementation, coordinating with other section Engineers and section manager who are working to design, specify, install facilities and equipment to modernize capability

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Engineering degree with more than 5 years of experience in the area of Metallurgy/Materials Science in the processing of metals, preferentially steels and steel products
Experience conducting and evaluating the results of steel processing trials, including data analysis
Experience with safety practices in a manufacturing environment
Experience with Continuous Improvement practices
Supervisory experience a plus

Business Contribution/Impact & Leadership (only applies to exempt job - please provide quantitative data):

The Pilot Operations mini-mill is modernizing equipment and practices for a significant increase in output of developmental flat rolled and tubular advanced high strength steels, while maintaining superior quality and zero incidents. This is part of the Research Phase II Strategic Growth initiative. Over 70% of all new steels/grade types developed in these two business areas (flat rolled and tubular) start in this department. The department does not now have any process engineer. However such a position, working in closer day to day coordination than is possible for the section manager, is required to maximize productivity and quality while maintaining safety.
Will be directing and working with teams of non-exempt salary technicians, from 1 up to 10 people total.

Work Environment/ Physical Requirements:

Clean and well organized, but with potential nuisance dust and with hot steel near work areas
Hot work PPE, potentially a respirator; no heavy lifting required over 40 lbs.