Senior Process Engineer
Smurfit Westrock · Covington, VA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 20+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Covington, VA.
- They ask for
- 20+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Minitab
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in Virginia: typical posted base $90k–$110k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 23 process engineer openings in Virginia, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 22 other live process postings in Virginia.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (20+ vs 5+)
Typical $90k–$110k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 43%
- Lean 35%
- Six Sigma 30%
- Team leadership 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Minitab, Cost reduction, 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 Process 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?
- 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: Smurfit Westrock in Covington
1 other open role at this site.
- Process Engineer · Process
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
To perform the duties of the job, this role requires
- ◆Constantly ascending/descending stairs and foot stools up to 3 rungs
- ◆Constantly ascending/descending ladders up to 10 feet tall
- ◆Constantly ascending/descending ladders taller than 10 feet tall
- ◆Constantly reaching by extending fingers on two hands
- ◆Constantly reaching by extending two arms
- ◆Constantly using fingers to grasp with two hands
- ◆Constantly using fingers to pinch with two hands
- ◆Constantly using fingers to type with two hands
- ◆Frequently working atop of elevated surfaces for 10-30 minutes at a time
- ◆Frequently positioning oneself low to the ground in a crouching position for up to 10 minutes at a time
- ◆Frequently positioning oneself low to the ground in a kneeling position for 5-15 minutes at a time
- ◆Occasionally working in spaces up to three feet wide for 10-30 minutes at a time
- ◆Occasionally exerting force by pulling up to 30 lbs of weight
- ◆Occasionally exerting force by pushing up to 30 lbs of weight
- ◆Occasionally exerting force by lifting up to 30 lbs of weight
- ◆The spoken exchange of ideas to be performed loudly 75-100% of the time
- ◆The spoken exchange of ideas to be performed quickly 75-100% of the time
- ◆The safe and accurate preparation and analyzing of data and figures, monitoring of a computer terminal, or inspection of small defects or parts
- ◆A repetitive motion, which entails frequent typing
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Position: Senior Process Engineer
Location: Covington, VA
The Opportunity
The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for managing technical projects aimed at product and process problem-solving and/or improvements, cost reduction, and profitability improvement. Process Engineers provide technical assistance to the operating departments to help them achieve the mill’s goals and objectives while driving continuous process improvement.
Major Job
Business Excellence
- •Determine and implement process changes and/or trials to improve operating efficiency and performance and minimize variation
- •Partner with operations, Maintenance, and Process Control Engineers to make process improvements
- •Provide operators, other managers, and salaried employees with analytical support and problem-solving related to operating processes
- •Drive continuous process improvement within an operating area through the coordination and management of raw material and other process trials (e.g. using an ingredient or process aid/chemical)
- •Troubleshoot equipment performance
- •Track and analyze data related to any trials, changes and continual production information to inform recommendations and decisions
People and Culture
- •Review and share best practices with peers in technical subject areas including computer software and systems (Plant Information System, Excel, quality data tracker, electronic log sheet)
- •Regularly communicate process-related data to operations and management in readily consumable way
- •Deliver presentations to operations team and leadership providing an executive-level summary of Process Excellence projects
Critical Skills / Capabilities
- •Analytical: Logically processes information to produce insights in a consumable format; aggregates, cleanses, and disseminates data in structured formats to support better business decisions and improved performance
- •Process-Oriented: Plans, designs, manages processes while focusing on refining and improving to increase efficiency and effectiveness; understands process inputs, activities, outputs, roles and sequencing
- •Problem-Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations; demonstrates tackling a problem by using a logical, systematic, or sequential approach
- •Communication: Clearly exchanges thoughts, ideas, and messages through written, verbal, and non-verbal methods that promote an understanding with the target audience; listens carefully and attentively
- •Interpersonal: Can relate to and communicate effectively with others to build rapport and relationships
- •Organizational Skills: Plans, arranges and/or monitor's work to ensure achievement of desired results; establishes a systematic course of action to accomplish objectives
- •Time Management: Plans, prioritizes, and manages time spent on accomplishing tasks to increase productivity and efficiency; demonstrates awareness and control over amount of time spent on activities; meets deadlines
- •Growth and Results Oriented: Demonstrates an interest, willingness and drive to learn new things; seeks to understand concepts, processes, and ideas within area of functional expertise; naturally inquisitive; sets meaningful goals for personal work productivity
Technical Skills
- •Proficient computer skills including experience with the following systems and applications:
- •Microsoft Office - Excel (ability to script macros is preferred), Outlook, PowerPoint, Word
- •Plant Information System
- •Minitab
Other
Work Environment
- •Frequently works indoors in an environment that is not climate controlled and has high temperatures
- •Frequently stands or walks for 1-2 hours at a time
Heavy industrial environment; required to wear PPE - ear plugs, hard hat, safety glasses, steel toed boots
to succeed
- •Required: 15-20 years of experience in a process engineering role
- •Preferred: Work experience in the paper industry
- •Required: Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering; chemical engineering preferred
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.
- •Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee refe