Plating Process Engineer

Position Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Process Engineer to support our plating operations as part of a corporate-level role spanning the United States and Mexico. This position will play a critical role in strengthening process control, standardization, and technical performance across multiple sites.

This role requires a high degree of mobility, with up to 50% travel across the U.S. and Mexico, as well as the ability to work effectively in a bilingual, cross-cultural environment. Strong English communication skills are required, and Spanish proficiency is highly preferred for U.S.-based candidates.

The ideal candidate will bring deep hands-on expertise in Nickel and Zinc plating, strong problem-solving capability, and the ability to audit, correct, and standardize processes in a production environment. This individual will be instrumental in closing gaps in process management and driving consistency, quality, and scalability in a core value stream.

Candidates must be eligible to travel internationally and maintain a valid passport and/or appropriate travel visa.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end process optimization for Nickel and Zinc plating lines, ensuring repeatability, efficiency, and consistent quality across locations
• Conduct process audits, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions to standardize operations
• Establish and enforce process controls, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and parameter management
• Diagnose and resolve process variation, defects, and quality issues using root cause analysis (RCA) and data-driven methods
• Drive implementation of statistical process control (SPC) and performance monitoring systems
• Partner with production, quality, and maintenance teams to ensure process stability and uptime
• Develop and maintain documentation including process flow diagrams, control plans, and work instructions
• Evaluate and optimize bath chemistry, chemical usage, and plating line performance
• Establish maintenance protocols and oversee execution, including effectiveness tracking
• Identify equipment and process improvement opportunities and support multi-year investment planning
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, cost reduction, and throughput
• Provide technical guidance and training across sites and teams
• Support customer audits, compliance requirements, and plating-related standards

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgy, or related field
• 5–10+ years of hands-on plating process engineering experience, including:
• Nickel plating (electroless and/or electrolytic)
• Zinc plating
• Demonstrated expertise in process control, SPC, and troubleshooting plating operations
• Strong understanding of:
• Bath chemistry management
• Surface preparation and pretreatment
• Coating thickness, adhesion, and corrosion performance
• Proven ability to stabilize underperforming processes and implement sustainable improvements
• Strong English language skills required
• Ability to travel up to 50% within the U.S. and Mexico
• Valid passport and/or required travel documentation

Preferred Qualifications

• Spanish language proficiency (strongly preferred for U.S.-based candidates)
• Experience in high-volume or automotive manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with ISO/IATF quality systems
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification (Green or Black Belt)
• Experience with process automation or digital monitoring systems

Key Competencies

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong process discipline and attention to detail
• Ability to audit processes and implement corrective actions
• Effective communication across technical and non-technical teams
• Ability to influence and drive change across multiple sites
• Hands-on, action-oriented approach

Why This Role Matters

Plating is a core capability and strategic differentiator for our organization. This corporate role is essential to strengthening internal expertise, driving process standardization across borders, and ensuring consistent product quality. The successful candidate will have a direct and measurable impact on operational performance and customer satisfaction across both U.S. and Mexico operations.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $600,000.00 - $860,000.00 per year

Application Question(s):

• What is your annual salary target?
• Do you have a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, materials science, metallurgy, or related field?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• nickel plating: 3 years (Required)
• bath chemistry : 3 years (Required)
• Surface preparation and pretreatment processes : 3 years (Required)

Language:

• English (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in México