Materials Engineer

Signicast is the industry’s leading investment casting manufacturer. Through the hard work and dedication of our employees, we satisfy our customer's needs by safely delivering a quality product on-time, at a competitive price. Working at Signicast means becoming part of a world-class company. With industry-leading Total Rewards package and the potential to grow your career with us. Signicast doesn’t just invest in you— we help you invest in a future!

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE:
Under the direction of the Process Engineering Manager or Engineering Manager, the Materials Engineer II is responsible for processing parts which includes mold setup, gate design, solidification modeling, standard practice development, heat treatment process development, and providing technical support to the customer. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded from time to time to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary.  

•    Comply with all safety and health guidelines, quality requirements, standard practices/procedures and housekeeping standards.

•    Develops and facilitates new product projects including significant part redesign, complex mold setups for solidification complex shell building, complex material requirements, challenging secondary operations, component sub-assemblies, and subcontract selection/support on several active projects in multiple facilities.  

•    Prioritize customer satisfaction, timeliness, and quality.

•    Supports quality responsibilities for new part projects ensuring Signicast QMS requirements are met. This would include APQP, first article and part approval. 

•    Manages new part number projects to engineering metrics.

•    Develops, evaluates and improves manufacturing methods for new part projects and in production part projects. 

•     Investigate and correct part number scrap/defect related issues using daily scrap forms and scrap forecast for open orders forms.  

•    Influences and contributes to the plant management team on process improvement projects, OKR’s (i.e., OpEx planning, CI activities).

•    Contributing member with the plant management team on the operational review meetings with the executive team. 

•    Provide troubleshooting assistance to manufacturing on processing issues within the shell room, foundry and any material testing that is performed. 

•    Applies investment casting knowledge to improve operational performance in the shell room, dewax, foundry and heat treatment. 

•    Contributing member to research and development teams. May lead certain sub projects within the main R&D project. 

•    Under the guidance of senior engineers, troubleshoots and conducts setup of process gages including OES spectrometers, Instron tensile tester, Keyence digital microscopes, hardness testers. 

•    Develops and maintains heat treat, alloy and purchased material specifications. 

•    Contributing team member during customer line down situations, tight project development timelines and quality concerns. 

•    Supervisory Responsibilities – None.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 
Requires a bachelor's degree in Material Science, Metallurgy, Ceramic Engineering or related field from an accredited four-year college or university and 3+ years’ experience; and or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior experience with CAD, Magmasoft/Solidcast software and Minitab preferred.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: 
Must be able to effectively communicate internally with other employees to share information, solves problems, and instructs manufacturing or supporting departments.  Must also be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing to customers and/or suppliers and act as the technical contact. Must have the ability to read and interpret complex documents such as material specifications, shop orders, work plans, and customer specifications.  Must be able to write standard reports and documentation.         

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. Able to understand advanced statistical concepts such as Six Sigma, CPK, CP, SPC, and Gauge R&R.

REASONING ABILITY: 
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
 
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 
Requires the ability to operate various equipment to include various precision measuring devices and lifting devices.  Requires a broad knowledge of material characteristics/testing, general manufacturing and machining practices.  Should be knowledgeable and/or familiar with applicable ISO/IATF/AS quality system requirements and policies. Proficient with 3D solid modeling (SolidCast), and NX (UniGraphics).  Be knowledgeable in solidification principles, basic GD&T principles and continuous flow manufacturing principles. Proficient with MS Office Suite products.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:   
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. Th employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Interplant travel within WI typical, with potential travel to a customer or supplier on an occasion. 

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
Safety glasses and safety shoes must be worn in all manufacturing areas. Additional PPE may be required as needed.

Benefits:  Our Total Rewards program offers world class benefits for this full-time position:

• Medical Insurance-PPO & HDHP HSA within 61 days of your start date 
• Dental & Vision insurance
• Wellness Program 
• Life Insurance
• Short-term & Long Term disability 
• Paid vacations plus 10 paid Holidays 
• Quarterly Performance Bonus 
• 401k Matching up to 5.5%
• Tuition Reimbursement 
• On-site Fitness center 
• On-site Chiropractor (Hartford Only) 

What a Career at Signicast Looks Like: Signicast offers a breadth of opportunities from career development planning to help our employees grow into their next position through individualized planning and training to in-depth leadership development for our next generation of leaders.

Signicast provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.