Process Engineer - Paper Machines
Smurfit Westrock · Hodge, LA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Process
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level process role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Hodge, LA. Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Partner with teams from diverse departments and align project goals with organizational objectives.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $93k–$130k.
Median of the low and high ends of 353 live postings that list pay, out of 1001 process engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Louisiana plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 9 other live process postings in Louisiana.
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 30%
- ✓ Six Sigma 30%
- Root cause 30%
- SAP 30%
- Automation 20%
- Team leadership 20%
✓ = 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?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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 Hodge
1 other open role at this site.
- Process Engineer - Technical · Process
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Opportunity
The Manufacturing Process Engineer, Paper Machines, supports the Paper Machines operations by safely improving processes and supporting the development, and implementation of new and/or existing projects. This role is a technical professional who safely analyzes, implements, and optimizes processes used to continuously improve production and process operations. The services include data collecting, data analysis, reporting, field trouble shooting, developing and modifying procedures, supporting operations management while demonstrating safety leadership and a quality mindset. This role is expected to safely lead continuous improvement projects, mill initiatives and other tasks needed to improve paper machine operations and reliability. This role reports directly to the Paper Machine Superintendent.
Primary accountabilities
- •Process Design & Development: Support and oversee Paper Machine projects and implementation while leading efforts in improving our existing Paper Machine processes to safely enhance productivity and efficiency within the organization.
- •Process Optimization: Analyzing existing processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement with a focus on providing solutions, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving product quality.
- •Troubleshooting: Acting as the primary technical support for Paper Machine areas. Diagnosing and resolving problems, improving reliability in real-time. Analyze existing workflows and identify areas for improvement, recommending changes to minimize bottlenecks and streamline operations.
- •Continuous Improvement: Identifying inefficiencies, bottlenecks using analytical data and problem-solving skills to develop and implement solutions that enhance process reliability. A proactive approach to monitoring process performance and leveraging data driven insight while optimizing operations for sustained organizational growth.
- •Documentation: Creating, modifying, and maintaining critical process documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP), and standard work instructions.
- •Compliance: Working with safety, environmental and quality to ensure all processes meet company standards and government regulations.
- •Project Management: Developing, leading, and improving new projects, process upgrades, new equipment installations and providing technical and training support for each project.
- •Daily Management System: Monitor the performance of processes, using metrics and KPIs to assess their effectiveness and proactively manage continuous improvement daily. Collaborate with the Paper Machnines Assistant Superintendents and team members to ensure systems are aligned with process standards while optimizing process improvement initiatives.
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Technical
- •Data Analysis: Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret PPR process data while utilizing data analysis tools, e.g., Pi, Fishbone, 5 Whys, Six Sigma concepts and Excel, Word, PowerPoint for reporting.
- •Problem Solving: Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address safety and environmental compliance, improve quality, and innovate practical solutions to achieve production goals and reliability.
- •Project Management: Strong project management skills for overseeing safety, environmental, quality and production initiatives.
- •Workflow Optimization: Streamline the operations by identifying bottlenecks and providing support while implementing strategic solutions. Leveraging data-driven insights to improve safety, environmental and quality compliance while enhancing productivity and further reducing operational costs.
- •Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Partner with teams from diverse departments and align project goals with organizational objectives. Communication and conflict resolution skills are essential to bridge gaps between varying functional perspectives, driving project success and operating efficiency.
- •Continuous Improvement: Identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks, process troubleshooting by use of analytical data and problem-solving skills to design and implement solutions that enhance process reliability. A proactive approach to monitoring process performance and leveraging data-driven insights ensures iterative refinement and optimization of operations for sustained organizational growth.
- •Process Mapping: Creating detailed visual representations of workflows to identify PPR inefficiencies, bottlenecks and proactively facilitating operational process improvements.
Interpersonal
- •Safety Mindset: Demonstrates safety as a core value with an unwavering commitment to colleagues and his or her own personal safety.
- •High Energy & Driven: Drives operational excellence by crafting seamless, efficient, and sustainable production systems demonstrating grit, perseverance and a passion for problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- •Collaborative Mindset: Someone who enjoys working with others and is team oriented in solving complex challenges throughout PPR.
- •Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to clearly convey complex technical concepts, prepare detailed reports, and effectively interface with diverse stakeholders.
- •Leadership: The ability to lead and motivate as well as collaborate effectively with cross-functional production teams and SMEs across the organization.
- •Attention to Detail: Focuses on accuracy, detailed data for monitoring progress, ensuring compliance, and reporting factual documentation.
- •Learning Mindset: Thrives on mastering new skills and sees every challenge as an opportunity to develop technical and operational skill sets.
Behavior Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- •Safety - Includes following safety rules and regulations, working to create and maintain good housekeeping, knowledge and use of safety equ