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Process Engineer

Research Triangle Park, NC

About Vulcan Elements 

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency. 

The Role 

As a Process Engineer, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of a massive 1 million square foot manufacturing facility expansion—from design and equipment specification through installation, commissioning, production startup, and scale-up to full capacity. You will be responsible for a process step, translating pilot-line processes into full-scale, stable, and repeatable production systems. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role requiring deep technical expertise and leadership. 

 

Core Expectations & Responsibilities 

  • Process Development & Qualification: Run engineering trials to determine optimal equipment recipes and operating windows. Own the parameter definition required to transition processes from development to stable, high-volume production. 
  • Process Optimization: Identify the best ways to operate manufacturing equipment to maximize yield, improve throughput, and minimize scrap. Monitor OEE results and station cycle times to drive continuous improvement. 
  • Quality & Capability Assurance: Lead Gage R&R studies and capability studies (Cpk  analysis) to ensure equipment and measurement systems are capable of meeting tight product specifications. 
  • Risk Management: Lead and own the PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) for your designated process steps to proactively identify and mitigate product and process risks. 
  • Hands-on Startup Support: Provide hands-on support during production startup, helping operators stabilize processes and eliminating early bottlenecks. 
  • Product & Process Review: Dedicate time to reviewing physical product quality at the station level, mapping defects back to root causes in the machinery or process settings. 
  • EHS & Quality Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards across all process activities. 
  • Travel: This position will require some interaction and travel to support equipment development reviews and Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) as needed (estimated at <5% travel). 

 

You will also be responsible for developing, reviewing, or managing the following deliverables: 

  • Risk & Safety: Risk Assessments, Ergonomic Assessments, and PFMEA. 
  • Process Design: Process Flow Charts, Bill of Process (BOP), Station Cycle Times, Process Sheets, and Process Checklists. 
  • Quality & Control: Quality Control Plans, R&R (Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility) Studies, and Quality Checklists. 
  • Operations & Maintenance: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions, Calibration Procedures, and Process Monitoring plans. 
  • Controls & IT: Input on HMI Controls logic, MES Transactions Lists, and process parameters tracking. 

 

Qualifications 

  • Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 3+ years of experience.
  • Process & Statistical Mastery: Deep expertise running DoEs (Design of Experiments), Gage R&R studies, and statistical process control (SPC) to optimize high-precision manufacturing processes. 
  • Documentation Expert: Expert-level experience authoring and developing standard manufacturing documents (PFMEA, Control Plans, Work Instructions, and Process Flows). 
  • Trial Execution: Proven track record of designing and running on-floor production trials to dial in complex equipment parameters without causing excessive downtime. 

 

Good to Have (Preferred Skills) 

  • Experience specifically in heavy industrial manufacturing, metallurgy, magnetics, or chemical processing. 
  • Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification. 
  • Familiarity with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) implementation and automated transaction mapping. 
  • Experience in highly regulated industries such as Defense (DoD), Aerospace (AS9100), or Automotive (IATF 16949). 

 

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