Electroplating Technical Director

About the CompanyWith facilities in Northeast (Ashtabula) Ohio and El Paso, Texas, Lake City Plating has emerged as a trusted leader in the metal finishing industry. We proudly serve North America’s leading manufacturers and distributors.Our automated facilities, talented mix of experienced platers and continuous improvement professionals, and our data-driven, systems approach to plating enable us to consistently process parts correctly and on time.We have the capability to plate complex and delicate parts, and we possess the flexibility to handle high-volume orders as well as small lot orders.Summary/Objective of RoleThe Technical Director is responsible for the performance and stability of Lake City Plating’s plating chemistry and wastewater treatment (WWT) systems.This role ensures chemistry and WWT processes operate safely, consistently, efficiently and within defined operating parameters so production reliably meets customer specifications. The role focuses on building and maintaining disciplined process control systems so plating chemistry and wastewater treatment operate predictably and support stable production.The Technical Director leads the company’s chemistry teams across all facilities, establishes strong process control systems, and drives continuous improvement.Lake City Plating operates facilities in Ashtabula, Ohio; Jefferson, Ohio; and El Paso, Texas, each with a chemistry and wastewater treatment team reporting to the Technical Director.Essential FunctionsProcess ControlDefine operating targets and specification limits for plating chemistry and WWT systemsEnsure plating baths remain within optimal operating parametersReview titration, Hull cell, and lab data to detect and correct issuesLead root cause analysis when plating results fall outside expectationsWastewater Treatment & ComplianceEnsure wastewater treatment systems consistently operate within permitted limitsTroubleshoot treatment issues and restore process controlMaintain compliance with EPA and environmental regulations LeadershipLead Chemistry Managers and Chemistry Technicians across all facilitiesSet clear expectations and hold teams accountable for performanceCoach and develop team members to strengthen technical capabilityContinuous ImprovementReduce process variation, scrap, rework, and chemical consumptionWork with suppliers and industry experts to evaluate new chemistries and processesIdentify opportunities to improve plating efficiency and reliabilityCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Procurement to improve process performanceSupport troubleshooting, product development, and operational improvementsSystems & Metrics OwnershipEstablish process controls and monitoring systems for plating chemistry and WWTEnsure lab data and operating metrics are consistently recorded and reviewedIdentify trends before processes move out of controlStandardize best practices across all facilitiesRequired Education, Experience, Skills, and NeedsBachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field7–10+ years of experience in electroplating Strong knowledge of plating chemistry control and wastewater treatment systemsExperience leading technical or process teams in a manufacturing environmentStrong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skillsAbility to use data to monitor and improve process performanceComfortable working in a cross-functional teams.Willing to reside within 30 miles of Ashtabula County, Ohio.Strong computer skillsComfortable working in a high-energy, continuous improvement, results-focused environmentPreferred Experience and Education10 or more years of experience supervising a staff of 5 or more associatesFamiliar with TrueChem software