Plant Engineering Manager
Owens Corning · Kearny, NJ
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Travel
- 10%
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Owens Corning (industrial) in Kearny, NJ.
- They ask for
- 2+ years
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, TPM, Minitab
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026
Production Engineer roles in New Jersey: typical posted base $116k–$155k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 17 production engineer openings in New Jersey, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
New Jersey plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 16 other live production postings in New Jersey.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 10+)
Typical $116k–$155k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- EHS / safety 41%
- Team leadership 29%
- Lean 29%
- New product launch 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for TPM, Minitab, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Production team at Owens Corning
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- 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.
Full description from Owens CorningAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Develop and sustain efforts in quality management and focused improvement by performing the duties outlined below.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Purpose of the job
The Quality and Technical Leader is accountable for: ensuring the finished goods manufactured meet or exceed customer and industry expectations; improving quality control, process control, structured problem solving, and product composition; reporting on relevant quality and plant metrics to Division Leaders; and leading product & process quality in a 24/7 manufacturing facility. Primary metrics include DPMO, quality, and process KPIs, and material productivity.
The incumbent reports to the Site Leader and oversees the Quality Technicians
Leading in Safety
- •Provide a safe and secure work environment for all employees, contractors and visitors
- •Participates in work area self-inspections and accident investigations as well as recommends corrective actions to make the workplace safer
- •Leads and supports safety initiatives and processes to drive towards zero recordable injuries
Process Stabilization: Process Control and Improvement/Cost Reduction – 40%
- •Review process control metrics for critical processes to improve the performance and to reduce product or process variation and minimize cost
- •Partner with division SMEs to research and trial new raw materials or equipment to improve quality and/or process control, and/or minimize cost
- •Accountable for training new and existing employees on customer and industry product requirements, quality testing, process and equipment theory of operation and setpoints, and Quality Management (QM) and Focused Improvement (FI) pillar work
- •Lead & utilize the TPM methodology of QM & FI pillars. Partner with other pillars on customer FFUs, loss analysis, and structured problem solving
- •Review all capital projects for quality or process impacts, and manage those changes to minimize negative impacts to the plant
Quality Control – 25%
- •Review quality control metrics for product properties and improve the performance to reduce product variation and minimize cost
- •Review lab standards and take necessary actions to ensure equipment is calibrated and working properly, and that technicians and operators using approved test methods
- •Review the quality of incoming raw materials to minimize the risk of creating defects
- •Ensure proper disposition of claim returns, hold material, or trial material
- •Partner with the sales team and warranty department to support roof claim inspections
- •Develop business cases for quality-related capital projects, and manage the project from scope to start-up
Administrative: Reporting, Customer Engagement, etc. – 35%
Report regularly (daily/monthly) on product defects, product quality, and process control needs, actions, and best practices to plant and division leadership teams
- •Ensure quality-related tasks and equipment minimize risk to the employees
- •Ensure participation in all plant safety activities by the quality department
- •Partner with the local sales team to review customer feedback
- •Facilitate and lead on-site customer tours and vendor training events
The employee should hold the following abilities
- •Must have solid verbal and written communication skills
- •Must have statistical analysis and data manipulation skills
- •Must have structured problem-solving skills in line with Six Sigma concepts
- •Must work well in team environments and be adept at motivating co-workers
- •Must be a proven leader within a relevant discipline and a quick learner who is adaptive to and embraces change
- •Must be able to use data to make business decisions and design trials while minimizing the risk of producing off-quality material
- •Must be self-motivated, capable of operating towards goals without daily intervention
- •Able to grasp and gather new information from a variety of sources quickly
- •Some travel required (up to 10%)
The employee should have one of the following
- •B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical engineering and 2+ years of relevant manufacturing and leadership experience
- •5+ years of relevant manufacturing and leadership experience
- •Graduates of Owens Corning’s development programs
The employee must be able to
- •Utilize Microsoft Office products
- •Utilize Statistical analysis software to identify data trends and patterns (ex: MiniTab, advanced Excel, BrainCube, AspenTech, etc)
The employee should possess the ability to
- •Work up to 12 hours in a non-climate-controlled manufacturing environment
- •Safeguard self with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – safety toed shoes, hearing protection, eye protection, hand protection
- •Sit or stand continuously for up to 12 hours
- •Lift up to 40 lbs without assistance
- •Demonstrate visual acuity
- •Routinely ascend and descend stairs and ladders as work area requires
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a branded building products leader with three complementary market-leading businesses providing roofing, insulation, and doors primarily for residential markets in North America and Europe. The company operates with an integrated go-to-market strategy and a unique set of OC Advantages™ – including its iconic brand, unparalleled commercial strength, leading technology, and winning cost position – to help customers win and grow in the market. Owens Corning is committed to helping build better and achieve more through winning partnerships, leading performance, and engaging people. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OC). For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com .
