Senior Process Engineer

*Sr. Process Engineer — Injection Molding | First Shift* *PlasTechs (PTL) | Saline, Michigan* *Full-time Salaried| Monday–Thursday | Four 10-hour days* *Bring your injection molding expertise to a hands-on engineering role—and enjoy a regular three-day weekend.* PlasTechs is hiring a Sr. Process Engineer who can independently develop molding processes, solve difficult production problems, and help our team produce quality parts consistently. Our facility operates *Cincinnati injection molding machines ranging from 33 to 440 tons*. Our molds use interchangeable inserts and configurations to produce different part variations, requiring careful process development and documentation. This role combines hands-on work at the press with process improvement, troubleshooting, and team development. Your expertise will help strengthen our operation as we grow. *What you’ll do* · Independently develop, establish, and optimize injection molding processes for new and existing jobs. · Lead mold trials and establish repeatable processing conditions using scientific molding principles. · Create and maintain accurate process sheets, startup instructions, and approved operating parameters for applicable mold and insert configurations. · Troubleshoot defects such as short shots, flash, sink, warpage, burns, splay, and dimensional variation. · Determine whether problems originate in the process, material preparation, tooling, or equipment, and coordinate corrective action. · Improve scrap rates, cycle times, startup efficiency, and process consistency while maintaining part quality. · Evaluate material drying, melt conditions, injection and packing parameters, cooling, and mold temperature control. · Support startups and verify that established processes produce acceptable parts before routine production. · Partner with tooling personnel to confirm setup readiness and address configuration-related processing needs. · Train and mentor technicians on process-sheet use, troubleshooting, startup practices, and escalation of abnormal conditions. · Document trials and process changes, verify results, and communicate approved changes across the production team. · Work with quality, maintenance, and production leadership to resolve recurring issues and prioritize improvements. *Required experience and skills* · *At least 5+ years of hands-on injection molding processing experience, including independent process development and troubleshooting, or equivalent demonstrated expertise.* · Ability to establish a molding process independently and explain the reasoning behind process adjustments. · Strong understanding of thermoplastic materials, mold function, and the relationship between machine settings and part quality. · Experience developing usable process sheets and maintaining repeatable production processes. · Ability to troubleshoot systematically, use production data, and verify that corrective actions work. · Experience supporting mold trials, startups, and changes in tooling or part configuration. · Ability to coach technicians and communicate clearly with production, quality, tooling, and maintenance personnel. · An engineering degree or equivalent practical experience in injection molding process engineering. *Preferred qualifications:* · Experience with Cincinnati injection molding machines. · Scientific molding training, including RJG or Paulson coursework. · Experience processing engineering resins. · Experience with designed experiments, process capability analysis, and measurable scrap or cycle-time improvements. *Schedule* · *Monday–Thursday: four 10-hour days.* · First-shift start and end times are assigned within our *6:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. operating window*. · Regular Friday–Sunday time off. · Additional hours or workdays are not currently required but may become necessary as production needs grow. · Full-time, salaried, on-site in Saline, Michigan. *Compensation and benefits* · *Salaried position*, depending on relevant experience. · Health insurance with company contributions toward premiums. · Company-paid short-term disability insurance. · Life insurance coverage. · Dental, vision, and long-term disability coverage available at employee expense. · 401(k) with company match. · One week of paid vacation after one year of employment. Alternative starting vacation arrangements may be considered for select hires. · Quarterly bonus opportunities tied to company performance above budget, paid on a one-quarter delay. · Annual profit-sharing opportunities based on overall company performance, paid around Christmas. Benefits are subject to eligibility and plan terms. Bonus and profit-sharing payouts depend on company results. *Apply today* Submit your resume and highlight your experience developing injection molding processes, troubleshooting difficult molding problems, and training production personnel. Include an example of a process improvement you led and the results you achieved. Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Health savings account * Life insurance * Paid time off * Referral program * Relocation assistance * Vision insurance Work Location: In person