Process Engineer Sustaining
Wolfspeed · Durham, NC
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Process
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level process role at Wolfspeed (industrial) in Durham, NC. Create, maintain, and improve manufacturing specifications, procedures, work instructions, and best-known methods.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, DMAIC, SPC, FMEA, Control plans, CAPA
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Process Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $77k–$89k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 28 process engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 27 other live process postings in North Carolina.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 32%
- ✓ SPC 29%
- ✓ FMEA 21%
- ✓ DOE 21%
- Team leadership 21%
- Six Sigma 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, CAPA, Power BI / Tableau, 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 Wolfspeed
We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Steven → (free) - 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: Wolfspeed in Durham
20 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in process roles at Wolfspeed.
- Process Engineer · Process
- Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Materials Process Technician · Process · Technician
- Wafer Operations Equipment Technician · Production · Technician
- CMP Mirra Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Process Technician · Process · Technician
Full description from WolfspeedAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Day-to-Day
- ◆Own and support CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) and wafer grinding processes for Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafer manufacturing.
- ◆Partner closely with Production, Equipment Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to resolve manufacturing issues and support daily production priorities.
- ◆Investigate and respond to process excursions, out-of-control (OOC) conditions, yield losses, and equipment-related issues using structured problem-solving methodologies.
- ◆Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on process capability, yield, throughput, cycle time, cost reduction, and manufacturing quality.
- ◆Analyze process and equipment data using Statistical Process Control (SPC) and other engineering analysis techniques to identify opportunities for improvement.
- ◆Develop, qualify, and implement process changes while ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and change-management requirements.
- ◆Lead process qualifications, equipment installations, acceptance activities, and technology transfers for new manufacturing equipment and processes.
- ◆Partner with Equipment Engineering to optimize preventive maintenance strategies and improve tool uptime and reliability.
- ◆Create, maintain, and improve manufacturing specifications, procedures, work instructions, and best-known methods.
- ◆Lead cross-functional projects from concept through implementation while meeting schedule, quality, and business objectives.
- ◆Support root cause investigations and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) using data-driven decision making.
- ◆Provide technical leadership and mentorship within areas of process ownership.
Requirements
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required (Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline).
- ✓2+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
- ✓Experience troubleshooting process and equipment issues using structured engineering methodologies.
- ✓Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
- ✓Experience using Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), data analysis, or process characterization techniques.
- ✓Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, manage change, and successfully implement process improvements.
- ✓Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate across multiple organizations.
- ✓Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- ✓Willingness to provide occasional off-hours support for critical manufacturing or equipment issues.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Semiconductor manufacturing experience, particularly in advanced materials processing or high-volume manufacturing environments.
- ✓Direct experience with Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP), wafer grinding, polishing, lapping, thinning, surface finishing, or substrate processing technologies.
- ✓Experience working with Silicon Carbide (SiC), advanced ceramics, or related engineered materials.
- ✓Knowledge of process qualification, equipment acceptance, process control plans, and manufacturing change management.
- ✓Experience with root cause analysis methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, FMEA, Fishbone, or Fault Tree Analysis.
- ✓Familiarity with manufacturing data analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab, Power BI, or similar platforms.
- ✓Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects with measurable business results.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
At Wolfspeed, we do amazing things in a human way.
We know that the achievements of our organization are due to the passion, hard work and creativity of our employees. We celebrate different perspectives to foster excellence across our organization, and our goal is to make diversity a foundation of what we do. We are proudly building an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work.
- •Enjoy doing things that people say can’t be done? Innovation is at the center of everything we do.
- •Hate red tape? We remove roadblocks instead of creating them.
- •Student? We offer continuing education assistance.
- •Looking for community? There are many ways to get involved, from Employee Resource Groups to local outreach.
Here’s the Gist
At Wolfspeed, we’re leading the global transition to Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology and enabling the next generation of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced industrial applications. We are seeking a highly motivated Process Engineer to join our Global Operations team and help drive world-class manufacturing performance in our high-volume Materials factory in Durham, NC.
This role focuses on surface finishing processes such as wafer grinding and CMP, supporting critical manufacturing processes through process optimization, problem solving, equipment improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate combines strong engineering fundamentals with semiconductor manufacturing experience and a passion for delivering measurable results in a fast-paced production environment.