Paper Machine Production Specialist
Smurfit Westrock · Syracuse, NY
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $83k–$138k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist production role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Syracuse, NY. A team player with a positive attitude that will continuously pursue strategies to ensure safety and quality and build rapport with the crews.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma
- Base pay
- $83k–$138k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in New York: typical posted base $111k–$162k. This one lists $83k–$138k.
Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 32 production engineer openings in New York, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
New York plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 31 other live production postings in New York.
- Base pay
- About 17% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 10+)
Typical $106k–$159k, from 16 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 50%
- Lean 38%
- EHS / safety 31%
- Root cause 31%
✓ = 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 Production team at Smurfit Westrock
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?
- 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: Smurfit Westrock in Syracuse
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Mechanic · Reliability · Technician
- Electrical and Instrumentation Tech · Reliability · Technician
- Mill Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The opportunity
The Production Specialist is responsible for ensuring safety and environmental stewardship of our employees and our processes within the papermill. This position oversees the production of 3 paper machines including Logistics (Inbound and Outbound), Utilities (Water Recycling Facility and Boilers), and Maintenance coordination.
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock
- •Responsible to uphold the Solvay Mill Team Concept in all aspects: safety, training, completion and adherence to policies and procedures. Includes periodic inspections of all area equipment, housekeeping of facilities, which includes the writing of work orders when deficiencies are observed.
- •Act as a spare shift team coordinator and/or BUS (i.e. vacations, training, etc.).
- •Recommend and initiate solutions for continuous improvement by completing one six sigma project a year.
- •Participate in the Safety Leadership Team.
- •Assist in technician training (i.e. progress updates, training timelines, etc.).
- •Using team concept – coordinate mill production activities, using discretion and decision-making skills, to meet Company and mill goals. Work with Business Unit Leaders / Specialists and technicians to efficiently optimize mill productivity and uptime.
- •Coordination of mill shift maintenance and shutdown activities.
- •Assist on machine outages (i.e. leading crews and jobs)
- •Monitor and hold teams accountable for teamwork adherence (i.e. quality, rounds, etc.).
- •Support mill shift team and line team coordinators by participating in team meetings and following up on action items.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
to succeed
- •Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Paper Science or Mechanical).
- •A work history which demonstrates a proven commitment to safety is required.
- •Experience working in paper making process is highly preferred.
- •Strong analytical, trouble shooting and decision-making skills.
- •Ability to set goals, track progress, and hold a team accountable.
- •Strong organizational skills; the ability to prioritize, maintain attention to detail and recognize time constraints as related to production optimization.
- •Strong desire to progress in operations management.
- •A minimum of 2 years supervisory experience in the paper industry.
- •A team player with a positive attitude that will continuously pursue strategies to ensure safety and quality and build rapport with the crews. The desire to teach, coach, mentor and promote the success of a dynamic, goal oriented and fast paced environment.
What we offer
- •Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
- •Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
- •An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.