Processing Engineer (Plating and Heat Treating)

Position Summary

Carson Operations is seeking an experienced Process Engineer to support and improve heat treatment, plating, and special manufacturing processes within our aerospace fastener manufacturing operations.

This position is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing manufacturing processes to ensure product quality, operational efficiency, and compliance with aerospace industry standards. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with heat treatment and plating operations, strong technical troubleshooting abilities, and direct experience supporting Nadcap audits.

The Process Engineer will partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to resolve process challenges, improve manufacturing performance, and maintain compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Process Engineering & Technical Support

• Develop, implement, and improve heat treatment, plating, and related manufacturing processes for aerospace fasteners.
• Provide technical support to production teams to troubleshoot process issues, equipment performance, and product nonconformances.
• Establish and maintain process parameters, work instructions, manufacturing specifications, and operating procedures.
• Analyze process data to identify opportunities to improve quality, increase efficiency, reduce scrap, and minimize rework.
• Support new product introductions, process validations, and equipment qualifications.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and process consistency.

Heat Treatment & Plating

• Provide technical oversight of heat treatment processes, including hardening, tempering, annealing, and other applicable thermal processes.
• Monitor heat treatment parameters, furnace performance, temperature controls, and compliance with applicable specifications.
• Support pyrometry requirements, including furnace temperature uniformity surveys (TUS), system accuracy tests (SAT), and instrument calibration.
• Provide technical support for plating processes, including surface preparation, chemical treatment, electroplating, and applicable protective coatings.
• Monitor plating bath chemistry, process parameters, coating thickness, and process control requirements.
• Troubleshoot plating defects, heat treatment inconsistencies, hardness issues, and other process-related nonconformances.
• Support hydrogen embrittlement prevention and relief processes, as applicable to fastener materials and plating specifications.

Nadcap Audit & Regulatory Compliance

• Support and coordinate Nadcap audits for Heat Treating and Chemical Processing/Plating.
• Maintain ongoing audit readiness by ensuring process documentation, procedures, equipment records, and employee qualifications meet applicable requirements.
• Conduct internal process audits and compliance assessments to identify and address potential findings.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Nadcap audit criteria.
• Investigate audit findings, perform root cause analysis, and develop effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support customer audits, special-process approvals, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline; or equivalent relevant technical experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or special-process engineering within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on technical experience with both heat treatment and plating processes.
• Direct experience preparing for, participating in, and supporting Nadcap audits, preferably involving Heat Treating and Chemical Processing.
• Working knowledge of heat treatment equipment, furnace controls, plating chemistry, and special-process requirements.
• Understanding of aerospace material specifications, manufacturing process controls, and quality requirements.
• Experience investigating process failures, performing root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace fastener manufacturing or precision metal component manufacturing.
• Experience with Nadcap
• Familiarity with pyrometry requirements.
• Experience supporting Nadcap audit corrective actions and accreditation maintenance.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience developing and validating manufacturing processes for aerospace or defense applications.

Benefits/Salary:

The position includes competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance (medical, dental, vision), excellent 401k matching program, paid holidays and vacation. Howmet Aerospace curates a strong working environment through opportunities for career progression, community engagement activities, and flexible schedules contingent upon role and location. The salary range for this position is $110k-$130k.