Process Engineer
Smurfit Westrock · Battle Creek, MI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Process
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level process role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Battle Creek, MI.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
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 $78k–$121k.
Median of the low and high ends of 14 live postings that list pay, out of 38 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 37 other live process postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 4+)
Typical $78k–$121k, from 14 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- New product launch 45%
- Root cause 45%
- Six Sigma 45%
- Tooling 39%
- Lean 39%
- Automation 32%
✓ = 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 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 Battle Creek
2 other open roles at this site.
- Journeyman Millwright · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Superintendent · Reliability · Supervisor
Process Engineer at Smurfit Westrock in other locations
Smurfit Westrock lists this title in 6 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Position: Process Engineer
Location: Battle Creek, MI
The Opportunity
The Process Engineer at the Battle Creek Mill provides technical services in monitoring, investigating, evaluating, and making recommendations for improving quality, quantity, and cost in mill’s quality and environmental processes. The Process Engineer reports to the Technical Manager.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
How you will impact Smurfit Westrock
- •Provide management with information on quality and operating parameters to assist in process control, budgeting, and detection of trends
- •Provide management with environmental audits and solutions
- •Provide management with help in quality issues and customer issues
- •Maintaining chemical inventories (ordering, trialing, and evaluation)
- •Understand lab and test equipment for troubleshooting and assistance
- •Help cover possible quality lab
- •Participate on process improvement teams to identify problems, evaluate solutions, make recommendations, and assist in implementing approved changes to improve quality, cost, and/or throughput.
- •Complete projects and development activities to prepare for operation positions as vacancies occur.
- •Participate in all technical engineering aspects of capital projects
- •Actively promote safety and environmental compliance
- •Willingness to move up and train for promotions
- •Other duties as assigned
to succeed
- •BS Degree in a related field such as Chemical Engineering, Pulp and Paper Science, Environmental Engineer
- •Experience with various computer software packages including Microsoft Office, Panther, PI
- •Strong verbal and written communication skills
- •Minimum 2 years of industry experience on either the paper machine or pulp mill area, preferably in a process engineering role (can be combination of Co-Op / Internship, along with time in process engineering role)
- •Physical ability to operate in paper mill environment, including light to moderate lifting, walking, and climbing, oral communication, correctable vision, and ability to work in a hot, humid, and dusty 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.
- •Benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k with match, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, employee referral bonus, and much more!
- •A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.