Senior Project Engineer

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. 

Work as a hands-on engineer to assist in developing quotes.   Interface with the external customers to define the scope of customer requirements.  Work directly with Division Engineering and external Mold shops in developing new opportunities.  Work with equipment suppliers to source new equipment to Sonoco Standards.  When possible, continuously improve our existing processes, products and systems in a safe and efficient manner to meet and exceed our goals for safety, quality, and productivity.  Manage facility infrastructure, assets and oversee environmental compliance.  This highly visible position will work with the quality department in certifying new and existing processes as well as assist in training and support of the plant floor as needed. 

Exceptional communication skills and project organization will be necessary for success.

What you'll be doing:

• To work safely in a manufacturing environment including all plant safety procedures.

• Directly work with the end use customers to define and execute on new opportunities.  This will include assisting in part design, design for manufacturing and with an eye for good manufacturing process DFMEA.

• Specify, purchase, track and control new equipment purchases which can include tools, machines, automation etc.

• Lead a cross functional team through NPL.

• Propose and lead continuous improvement projects on the production floor with solid return on investment.

• As necessary, assist the production floor in daily operations.  Including but not limited to assisting with mold troubleshooting, repairs, PM, and refurbishments, etc.

• Communicate with internal and external customers in a professional manner.

• Responsible for implementing visual controls and standard work in department.

• Responsible for working with the plant and management to improve safety initiatives.

• Must be willing to work the hours necessary to complete objectives which includes extended travel away from home, domestic and international travel may be required.

• Responsible for high level CapEx Installs including providing support to manufacturing as needed.  This position may manage one large project > $2 MM or multiple smaller projects simultaneously.  This process includes capital package preparation, equipment procurement through installation/startup within the guidelines of all Sonoco and OSHA safety standards.

• Responsible for managing plant infrastructure, maintenance and environmental compliance

This position is based at our Wixom, Michigan facility within the Industrial & Specialty Plastics division.

We’d love to hear from you if: 

• Education – 4 Year Engineering Degree preferred but will consider equivalent experience in leu of a degree.

• Experience - 8 years hands on plastic project engineering.  

• Preferred Experience – 10 years hands on process and project engineering in a plastics plant.

• Mechanical knowledge and aptitude for plastic processing equipment, including but not limited injection molding machines, secondary equipment, automation, conveyance, utilities, and packaging.

• Knowledge of analysis tools: Six Sigma, Control Charting, Root Cause Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, Pareto Analysis, SPC.

• Able to read and understand technical drawings 2D and 3D is required.

• Solid, proven, analytical problem-solving skills.

• Ability to identify and solve practical manufacturing process problems on the shop floor with both state of the art and aged manufacturing equipment.

• Solid understanding of current production state and future state of the injection molding industry.   

• Ability to interpret business correspondence, customer communications, and technical procedures utilizing clear and concise verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability and desire to work hands on in a 24-hour 5 day a week plastics manufacturing plant.

• Self-starter: motivated and ambitious to pursue change and implement improvements, with the ability to document that success, without the need for daily specific directions.

Compensation: 

This is a progression position, and can be a Level I, II, III, or Senior, depending on experience and business needs. The annual base salary range for this role is as follows:

• Plant Process Engineer I: $73,280 - $82,440
• Plant Process Engineer II: $92,800 - $104,400, plus a quarterly target bonus of 7.5% of base salary.
• Plant Process Engineer III: $104,800 - $117,900, plus a quarterly target bonus of 7.5% of base salary.
• Senior Plant Process Engineer: $113,840 - $128,070, plus a quarterly target bonus of 7.5% of base salary.

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We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.