Process 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.

Reporting to the Complex Superintendent, the Process Engineer - Paper Mill provides technical leadership and engineering support for the paper manufacturing operation, with a primary focus on safety, quality, productivity, reliability, waste reduction, and continuous improvement.

This position works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, vendors, and other technical resources to analyze production performance, troubleshoot process and equipment issues, optimize operating conditions, and implement sustainable improvements. The Process Engineer will also lead process-improvement initiatives and manage capital projects from development through installation, commissioning, and start-up.

What you will be doing:

Process Improvement & Optimization

- Provide technical leadership for manufacturing control strategies and continuous process improvement.
- Analyze production data and operating trends to identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost.
- Identify and eliminate sources of process variation, waste, scrap, downtime, and quality loss.
- Develop, test, implement, and sustain improvements to paper-making processes and operating procedures.
- Apply structured problem-solving and root-cause-analysis methods to recurring process and equipment issues.
- Establish appropriate process controls and operating parameters to sustain improvements.

Paper Mill Technical Support

- Provide day-to-day engineering support to Operations and Maintenance.
- Troubleshoot paper-machine, process, quality, chemical, utility, and related manufacturing issues.
- Develop a strong working knowledge of paper-machine processes, equipment capabilities, production performance, and key operating indicators.
- Evaluate process testing and trial results and communicate findings and recommendations to Operations and plant leadership.
- Support process design, equipment optimization, commissioning, and start-up activities.
- Assist Maintenance with equipment reliability, troubleshooting, maintenance planning, and coordination with equipment manufacturers and technical service providers.

Continuous Improvement

- Lead and participate in continuous-improvement activities using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Total Quality Management, and other structured problem-solving techniques as appropriate.
- Facilitate cross-functional teams to identify root causes, develop countermeasures, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Conduct process and mill audits to identify improvement opportunities and develop action plans.
- Track results to ensure improvements achieve the expected operational and business benefits.

Capital Projects & Technology

- Identify opportunities where new equipment, automation, instrumentation, or technology can improve mill performance.
- Develop capital project justifications and authorization requests.
- Manage assigned capital and process-improvement projects from scope development through installation, commissioning, and start-up.
- Coordinate project activities with Operations, Maintenance, contractors, vendors, and equipment suppliers.
- Support the transfer and implementation of proven technologies and best practices from other manufacturing locations.

Quality & Product Development

- Work collaboratively with Quality, Operations, suppliers, and customers to improve existing paper grades and support development or qualification of new products and process changes.
- Investigate process-related quality issues and identify corrective and preventive actions.
- Develop process-control plans that support consistent product quality and sustainable long-term improvement.
- Coordinate and evaluate chemical and process trials designed to improve paper-machine performance or product characteristics.

Standardization & Training

- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, process documentation, operating guidelines, and standard work instructions.
- Manage and document engineering and process changes, ensuring process and control records remain current.
- Work directly with operators and technicians to strengthen process knowledge and troubleshooting capability.
- Develop or support technical training associated with process changes, new equipment, operating standards, and process improvements.

Safety & Environmental Responsibilities

- Demonstrate visible leadership and personal accountability for workplace safety.
- Incorporate safety and environmental considerations into process changes, equipment modifications, trials, and capital projects.
- Evaluate processes and operating conditions to identify opportunities to reduce operational risk.
- Work collaboratively with Operations and Maintenance to ensure process improvements do not compromise safe operating practices.

This position is located onsite in City of Industry, CA.

We'd love to hear from you if:

Education & Experience

Required

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Science, or a related technical discipline.
- Two or more years of manufacturing experience.
- Experience with paper-machine operations and troubleshooting.
- Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with hourly employees, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, suppliers, and plant leadership.

Preferred

- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Pulp & Paper Engineering.
- Experience in paper, tissue, pulp, converting, or another continuous-process manufacturing environment.
- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, root-cause analysis, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
- Experience with process control systems/DCS, instrumentation, and manufacturing data analysis.
- Experience developing and implementing capital projects.
- Experience with process commissioning and equipment start-up.

Key Competencies

- Safety leadership
- Process optimization
- Paper manufacturing knowledge
- Technical troubleshooting
- Root-cause analysis
- Continuous improvement
- Data-driven decision making
- Project management
- Equipment and process reliability
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Technical communication
- Operator training and development
- Change management

Compensation:

This is a progression position and can be a Plant Process Engineer II, $92,800 to $104,400 plus 12.5% monthly target bonus or Senior Engineer, Plant Process $113,840 - $128,070 plus 12.5% monthly target bonus.

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

Benefits

- Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
- Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
- Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
- Tuition reimbursement

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.