Senior Process Engineer - New Product Introduction
Howmet Aerospace · Whitehall, MI
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 14 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Whitehall, MI. Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, FMEA, Control plans, Automation, Casting
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $74k–$123k.
Median of the low and high ends of 15 live postings that list pay, out of 41 process engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 40 other live process postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 3+)
Typical $74k–$123k, from 15 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ New product launch 49%
- Tooling 49%
- ✓ Six Sigma 46%
- Root cause 39%
- Lean 39%
- ✓ FMEA 37%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Process team at Howmet Aerospace
We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Tanya → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall
38 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in process roles at Howmet Aerospace.
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- Operations Manager · Production · Manager
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- Senior Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
This position is responsible for technical leadership in the development and implementation of robust new part introduction processes that consistently meet or exceed our customers’
requirements
for the metallurgical quality and performance of aerospace components. Additionally, responsible for continuous improvement of processes by improving existing methods and developing new methods of manufacturing, leading to increased yields and reduced labor content.
- ✓Performs all functions of Process Engineer and will be responsible for the development or overseeing the development of new NPI program processes.
- ✓NPI Concurrent Engineering - Conducts meetings with customers to review design concepts for manufacturing feasibility.
- ✓Provides leadership and single point of accountability (SPA) on all critical process concerns within NPI assignments.
- ✓Participates in NPI and yield improvement meetings.
- ✓Develops and improves processes of critical and complex aerospace components.
- ✓Functions as both an individual contributor and as a technical leader to other engineers.
- ✓Supervises, trains, mentors and aids Process Engineers in the department and is a resource for other departments and generic improvement activities.
- ✓Conceives, evaluates and implements problem solving activities, cost reduction initiatives and part/process improvement activities.
- ✓Part Qualification and Re-qualification - Determines and supports manufacturing
requirements
necessary to meet customer requirements; Performs metallurgical investigations; Assembles process documentation per customer requirements.
- ✓Process Development and Improvement - Monitors/analyzes yield, labor, and materials data to develop process improvement ideas for new and established processes.
- ✓General Technical Support - Conducts meetings and provides technical data to meet customer needs.
- ✓Process Certification - Defines and implements control plans and FMEA per customer requirements; Collects, analyzes and prepares statistical data per control plan.
- ✓Quotation Prep – Assists in developing material, scrap and labor costs for cost modeling.
- ✓Manufacturing Support - Aids Manufacturing, resolving technical issues as required.
Qualifications
- ✓A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
- ✓A minimum of 7 years experience as a process engineer in the investment casting industry.
- ✓Knowledge of Six Sigma, statistical analysis, and scientific methods for problem solving.
- ✓Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite software.
- ✓This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status.
- ✓Ability to manipulate and interrogate CAD models.
- ✓Have good organizational skills.
- ✓Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- ✓This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution in the following disciplines preferred: Metallurgical or Materials Engineering.
- ✓8 or more years experience as a process engineer in the investment casting industry.
- ✓Experience in new process control development and product start-ups.
- ✓Project management experience.
- ✓Good verbal communication skills.
- ✓Proven problem-solving skills using sound fundamentals as well as history of trials/execution of improvements.
- ✓Ability to effectively work/communicate as part of a project team.
- ✓Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and activities.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
This NPI Senior Process Engineer position will be located in Whitehall (Michigan) Casting and will assume direct responsibility for providing technical guidance and mentorship to others as well as executing activities around new product introductions.
Job roles
- •Systems thinker --sees the business and its operation holistically; understands actions and reactions; considers multiple pathways of potential effect before decisions; thinks strategically about interventions with an eye toward scale.
- •Optimizer --constantly challenging the organization to work smarter; supports others to ensure they have what they need to do their work successfully.
- •Anticipation --looks ahead to minimize potential issues and maximize advantages; prepares others for what comes next.
- •Operational accelerator --drives continuous improvement; understands ramifications of automation and other advances; advocates for safety, ergonomics and scalable solutions.
- •Organization and structure --works within existing structures while striving to improve and standardize them; provides accurate information; galvanizes others toward common goals.
- •Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders.
- •Data informed --focused on things that drive quantifiable business outcomes; evaluates based on quantitative feedback; knows and explains the “why” behind actions.
- •Prioritized reaction --handles the unexpected without losing sight of important objectives; reacts where greatest leverage points exist.
- •Relationship --connects individually and with teams across shifts and practices; builds rapport and commonality; creates a “win together” ethic; serves as liaison between shop floor and engineering; keeps the pulse of the floor; helps people feel heard.
