Process Engineering Supervisor

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $4B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

- Flexible time off policy.
- 401(k) company match up to 4%, dollar for dollar.
- Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs.
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
- Career advancement opportunities with an industry-leading company.
- Annual bonus based on yearly salary.

General description of the role

The Process Engineering Supervisor leads the process engineering team supporting Black Jacket manufacturing. The role is accountable for process optimization, product industrialization, safety leadership, quality and cost improvement, capital project support, and structured technical problem-solving. The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership with practical knowledge of cable manufacturing, extrusion, fiber handling, cabling, jacketing, armoring, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

- Lead and develop the team. Supervise, coach, and develop Process Engineers; set priorities aligned with business objectives; support recruitment and onboarding; and build a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Own manufacturing processes. Provide technical leadership for tube extrusion, SZ stranding, fiber handling, jacketing and sheathing, armoring, rewinding, and packaging. Establish process standards, operating windows, and control plans.
- Improve manufacturing performance. Drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, equipment effectiveness, process capability, and stability. Reduce scrap, rework, downtime, defects, and variability while improving productivity and capacity.
- Lead technical problem-solving. Direct structured root-cause investigations, corrective and preventive actions, and resolution of chronic manufacturing issues and customer quality concerns.
- Industrialize new products. Lead process development, risk assessments, qualification trials, manufacturing readiness, specifications, and work instructions. Partner with Product Engineering to transfer new products and technologies into production.
- Advance continuous improvement. Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC projects; apply statistical methods and data analytics; establish KPIs; and monitor performance trends.
- Support quality systems. Improve first-pass yield and customer quality performance; support internal and external audits; and help maintain compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements.
- Execute capital projects. Support equipment specification, procurement, FAT, installation, commissioning, startup, and qualification. Lead engineering support for new lines and capacity expansions, including technical justification and ROI analysis.
- Champion safety and sustainability. Promote a safety-first culture, lead hazard assessments and mitigation, ensure engineering compliance with safety and environmental requirements, and support waste-reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Polymer, Industrial, or a related engineering discipline.
- Seven or more years of manufacturing or process engineering experience, including three or more years leading engineers or technical personnel.
- Experience in cable, wire, fiber optic, plastics extrusion, polymer processing, or a similar continuous manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated success leading process improvement initiatives and delivering measurable manufacturing results.

Technical knowledge

- Polymer processing and extrusion technologies.
- Statistical Process Control, process capability analysis, Design of Experiments, and manufacturing data analytics.
- Root Cause Analysis, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methods.
- Industrial automation and controls fundamentals.
- Project management, cross-functional communication, prioritization, and decision-making.

Preferred qualifications

- Master's degree in Engineering or Engineering Management.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Fiber optic cable manufacturing experience, including OPGW, ADSS, tight-buffered, harsh-environment cable, or SZ stranding and cabling technologies.
- Experience leading large capital projects and commissioning manufacturing equipment.
- Knowledge of rheology, polymer material science, and extrusion process optimization.
- Experience with ERP systems, preferably Oracle, and familiarity with Industry 4.0, manufacturing data analytics, or digitization initiatives.

Personal qualities

- People-focused leader. Builds capability through coaching, clear expectations, feedback, development planning, and succession planning.
- Accountable and results-oriented. Takes ownership, follows through, and connects engineering priorities to measurable business outcomes.
- Analytical problem-solver. Uses facts, data, and structured methods to make sound decisions and resolve complex manufacturing problems.
- Collaborative influencer. Works effectively across Operations, Quality, Product Engineering, suppliers, and other stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.
- Clear communicator. Explains technical information effectively and communicates priorities, risks, and recommendations to technical and leadership audiences.
- Customer-focused. Balances safety, quality, delivery, and cost while maintaining strong internal and external customer focus.
- Improvement-minded. Challenges the status quo, encourages innovation, and creates an environment where teams learn and improve continuously.
- Safety and environmental steward. Models safe behavior and integrates risk reduction and sustainability into engineering decisions.