Process Engineer

Job Location: Yankton, SD

Hydro employees can enjoy several benefits including:

• Medical, Rx, Dental, Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Parental Leave 

• Bonus Plan Eligibility 

• Education Assistance 

• Retirement Savings Plans with Company Match/Contributions 

Job Summary:

The Process Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement in process efficiency, cost management, production, and product quality. This role involves collaborating with various departments to enhance process flow and working closely with Maintenance and Production teams to ensure reliability and maximize process uptime. Additionally, the Process Engineer will support and design automation and control systems to optimize plant operations.

Required Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering or related.
• At least 3 years of Process Engineering experience.
• At least 3 years of experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in English.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Experience with casting or extrusion metallurgy. 
• Strong mathematical skills, particularly in process and manufacturing statistics. 
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana) and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Stage-Gate)
• Experience with fabrication and or industrial painting. 
• Fluent in Spanish. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation, sponsorship, and ongoing support of continuous reliability improvement standards and practices across all processes.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to identify and drive improvements aimed at reducing waste and variation in operations.
• Manage engineering and process improvement projects, including scope definition, resource planning, scheduling, and risk mitigation
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and communication throughout the project lifecycle to ensure alignment and stakeholder engagement
• Identify ergonomic risks and actively engage in efforts to reduce them, enhancing workplace safety and productivity.
• Conduct system checks to verify that processes and designs are functioning as intended and in compliance with established specifications.
• Analyze operational data to optimize methods and ensure the ongoing effectiveness of systems.
• Drive the capture, documentation, and standardization of best practices across shifts, focusing on consistent training and performance optimization.
• Ensure safe handling and use of chemicals, maintaining a strong understanding of safety protocols.
• Coordinate the 5S workplace efficiency program as a foundational element of lean practices.Track and report project milestones, KPIs, and deliverables, providing regular updates to leadership and recommending course corrections when needed
• Support strategic planning initiatives by contributing to long-term process development roadmaps and capital project proposals