POSITION SPECIFICATIONS
REPORTS TO: Project Manager
FLSA STATUS: Salaried - Exempt
SUPERVISES: None
Benefits
- Salary range $70,000 to $125,000 commensurate with experience
- High deductible medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, including spouse and children (modest payroll deductions)
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Vacation (starting at 3 weeks a year)
- Supplemental leave (used in conjunction with Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave)
- 401K with matching company funds
- Quarterly bonus structure
- Tuition reimbursement
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Mechanical Project Engineer plans, develops, organizes and manages capital, reliability, and process improvement projects for areas throughout the plant. The position also provides maintenance and production support as needed.
The Mechanical Project Engineer’s essential functions include:
- Develop project scope, feasibility, cost estimates, and schedule.
- Prepare project approval authorizations.
- Develop specifications.
- Charter, lead, and facilitate cross-functional project teams.
- Manage project resources, budgets, and schedules.
- Administer engineering and design contracts.
- Coordinate and manage installations, outages, and equipment start-ups.
- Prepare and organize project documentation (manuals, PM’s, spare parts, correspondence, drawings, drawing lists, material listings, etc.).
- Coordinate operator and maintenance training.
- Track, report, and manage final project performance, schedule, and cost compliance.
- Initiate and implement new designs or upgrades to mechanical systems including: hydraulic & pneumatic control systems, mechanical drive systems, plant utilities, cranes, and mill process equipment.
- Assist in troubleshooting equipment.
- Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs and procedures.
- Coordinate and support safety initiatives.
- Provide technical support during equipment outages.
- Manage project documentation.
- Evaluate reliability improvement options.
- Work with cross-functional teams to develop process and production improvements.
- Comply with all environmental, safety, and quality regulations.
EDUCATION
An undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
EXPERIENCE
This individual will possess:
- 3-5 years previous mechanical engineering experience.
- Experience with AutoCAD, project scheduling, and specification writing.
- Knowledge of mechanical design and hydraulic, pneumatic, and power transmission systems.
- Proven ability to work in a low supervision environment while successfully meeting goals.
- Previous experience managing projects in a manufacturing environment.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Strong PC skills, including Windows, Word, Excel, and Access.
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
- Proven ability to work in teams.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
This individual will:
- Be energetic, disciplined, and focused on a team-building operational organization.
- Be well organized.
- Have well developed interpersonal and business partnering skills, with the ability to quickly adapt to, be accepted by, and interrelate with the organization at all levels.
- Be willing to work flexible hours.
PERFORMANCE FACTORS
- Attendance and Dependability: The employee can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.
- Communication and Contact: The employee communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the Company. This position interfaces with plant and area management, area and shops maintenance personnel, vendors, contractors, area engineering, and contract engineers.
- Relationships with Others: The employee works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the Company. The employee exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Approximately 70% of the job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. 30% of the job function is required in the plant. There is exposure to operating machinery and a manufacturing environment.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Refer to training matrix on file with Quality Department.
This position has been determined to be a safety-sensitive position and requires a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen that includes marijuana.
No third party candidate submissions are being accepted at this time for this opening.
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 a diverse and inclusive culture. We are strongly committed to expanding inclusion, equity, and diversity – how we hire, develop, and inspire our diverse team members that reflects and relates to the increasingly multicultural community.
Skills Required
- Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 3-5 years previous mechanical engineering experience
- Experience with AutoCAD, project scheduling, and specification writing
- Knowledge of mechanical design and hydraulic, pneumatic, and power transmission systems
- Proven ability to work in a low supervision environment while successfully meeting goals
- Previous experience managing projects in a manufacturing environment
- Excellent analytical skills
- Strong PC skills, including Windows, Word, Excel, and Access
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
- Proven ability to work in teams
- Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Kaiser Aluminum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kaiser Aluminum and has not been reviewed or approved by Kaiser Aluminum.
-
Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentive earnings through monthly profit-sharing/bonuses and abundant overtime are highlighted as meaningful additions to base pay. Feedback suggests this makes it possible to earn a substantial income when extra hours are available.
-
Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage is offered to employees working 30+ hours, alongside wellness programs, an EAP, and Health Advocate support. First‑day eligibility for many benefits reinforces perceived breadth of core health offerings.
-
Retirement Support — 401(k) savings with company matching is available, with vesting beginning quickly in many cases. Union settings at some facilities also reference pension features that strengthen long‑term retirement security.
Kaiser Aluminum Insights
What We Do
Safety. Innovation. Sustainability. Teamwork. Integrity. At Kaiser Aluminum, these words mean something to us. They are words that describe our culture and the manner in which we conduct business. They are the reason Kaiser Aluminum is Making it Possible. We produce semi-fabricated aluminum mill products engineered to outperform in strength, quality, and recyclability and make a safer and more sustainable world possible. Our coated sheet products protect and preserve the food and beverages your family consumes every day. Our lightweight, high-strength, energy-absorbing automotive extrusions improve your car’s fuel efficiency and performance while protecting your passengers on the road. From nose to tail and wing tip to wing tip, aerospace manufacturers rely on our products to make both commercial and military planes lighter, stronger, and more maneuverable for those who travel and those who protect our nation. We know that customer-focused, innovative solutions that move our industry and our world forward are made possible through the teamwork of a diverse workforce of technical, operational, and business professionals focused on mutual goals. We know that our success is a shared outcome that makes the future possible. At Kaiser Aluminum, we are looking for individuals who share the values that have guided us for more than 75 years. The future belongs to innovators and big thinkers – and Kaiser Aluminum is helping make that future possible. At Kaiser, it’s not just a job, it’s a career. Check out our current opportunities today.







