Process Metallurgical Engineer

Kaiser Aluminum is known around the world for its superior quality. Our secret is what we put into it—innovative thinking, industry-leading reliability, and a world-class commitment to customer service. In short, the same qualities we look for in our people. We are looking for a Process Metallurgist to join Kaiser Aluminum in Richland, Washington!

The Process Metallurgist will focus on achieving best-in-class products in seamless extrusions by enhancing quality assurance, driving continuous improvement, and building a proactive quality culture.

This is an onsite position. At this time, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role, either now or in the future. Therefore, we cannot move forward with candidates who would require sponsorship and or are on (e.g., H-1B, F-1, STEM OPT, OPT) visas.

• Salary range $90,000-$120,000 per year depending on experience
• High deductible medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, including spouse and children (modest payroll deductions)
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation - 3 weeks 
• Supplemental leave (used in conjunction with Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave)
• 401K with matching company funds
• Plant bonus
• Tuition reimbursement

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the Quality Management System which includes management of document control, internal/external auditing, and work procedures, etc.
• Manage Quality Laboratory which includes tensile testing, hardness testing, and various customer requirements.
• Maintain ISO 9001 certification.
• Manage plant pyrometry program which includes temperature uniformity surveys (TUS), system accuracy test (SAT), and calibrations.
• Manage vital few/near-miss activities and facilitate annual product liability/corporate audits.
• Manage plant calibration program.
• Key member for plant continuous improvement and key support for business initiatives such as TTIs and Capital Planning/project management.
• Tracking of KPIs for weekly/monthly reporting.
• Investigate nonconformances and use lean six-sigma tools for corrective action.
• Develop and lead quality training to operational teams.
• Develop and execute trials to optimize product quality and reduce cost.
• Support commercial organization with new product inquiries through product and process capability assessments.
• Ensure compliance to applicable industry and customer requirements.
• Primary technical contact for customers which includes management of customer issues, project lead for trials, and oversight of product reporting via certified test reports.
• Key support for ERP functions and integration with shop floor reporting system.
• Develop, approve, and manage SMART plans that define project goals.
• Ensure compliance with corporate standards for product liability and export control.
• Support plant safety initiatives through active involvement in the safety process.

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent in Metallurgy, Materials, or related engineering field preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a metallurgist or process engineer.
• Aluminum industry experience preferred.
• Experience in LEAN manufacturing and statistical problem-solving.
• Proven ability to work in teams in a low supervision environment while successfully meeting goals.
• Experience managing technical projects/initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in data acquisition, analysis, and report writing.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, One Drive).
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About Kaiser Aluminum: Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.