Lead - SME Plating Engineer

What you’ll do:

Primary Function:

The Lead - SME Plating Engineer is responsible for technical ownership, optimization, and regulatory compliance of plating processes and facilities. This role provides full oversight of the chemical laboratory supporting plating operations, ensuring bath integrity, analytical accuracy, and adherence to environmental, health and safety (EHS), and quality standards. The position drives process stability, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement across all plating and chemical control systems.This role has direct supervisory responsibility for the Laboratory Supervisor, Lab Technicians, Plating Technicians (as applicable), and any additional resources supporting plating processes or wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) continuous improvement initiatives.

The Lead - SME Plating Engineer  is also accountable for ensuring full compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and internal Eaton standards, including wastewater discharge, hazardous waste management, air emissions, and chemical handling. The role partners closely with EHS to proactively manage environmental risks, sustain zero violations, and drive initiatives focused on waste reduction, water conservation, and overall sustainability performance.

Additionally, the Lead - SME Plating Engineer  is accountable for advancing key operational and business performance metrics, including improving safety performance, reducing customer defects (PPM), increasing On-Time Performance (OTP), strengthening qualification and validation processes, expanding capacity, and improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). The role also leads to the implementation of Continuous Improvement Framework (CIF) modules and the deployment of Operational Excellence (OpEx) tools.

The Lead - SME Plating Engineer  defines and leads cross-functional process improvement initiatives to drive measurable improvements in critical plant KPIs, including PPM, warranty claims, fill rate, on-time delivery, yield, and scrap reduction.

Essential Functions:

A. Plating Process Ownership
•    Develop, optimize, and control electroplating processes (e.g., zinc, nickel, tin, etc.)
•    Maintain process capability (Cp/Cpk), yield, and throughput targets
•    Troubleshoot plating defects (e.g., adhesion, thickness variation, corrosion failures)
•    Define and continuously optimize the manning strategy for plating, laboratory, and WWTP operations, including headcount planning, role definition, skill matrix development, and shift alignment. 
•    Discuss Key metrics on Tier 2, Use electronic boards/Power Bi/Ignition information to define fast response actions. Follow actions with the team.  Support Usage of IIOT system through the plant.    Thru IIOT Dashboard, Visual Display, Tier 2 Board
•    Implement Lean Tools (5S, VSM, SW, MF, BPI’s, TPM, Error Proofing ), PFMA’s , operating windows, control plans, 
•    Lead process improvements to reduce scrap, rework, and chemical consumption
•    Ensure plating lines are operating effectively (automation as chemical feeds and plating controls, rectifiers, filtration, agitation)
•    Coordinate preventive maintenance strategies for chemicals, tanks, pumps, and auxiliary equipment
•    Drive uptime improvements and preventive/predictive maintenance initiatives
•    Support capital projects (new lines, optimization, upgrades, expansions)

B. Chemical Laboratory Ownership
•    Oversee laboratory operations supporting plating bath control
•    Define and standardize analytical methods (titrations, spectroscopy, Hull cell testing, etc.)
•    Ensure accurate and timely chemical analysis for all plating baths
•    Maintain calibration and validation of lab equipment
•    Manage chemical additions, replenishment strategies, and bath life cycles

C. Quality & Compliance
•    Ensure compliance with customer specs (ISO, EQMS, MESH, Eaton Standard, etc.)
•    Support audits (internal, customer, regulatory)
•    Maintain documentation (PFMEA, control plans, SOPs, WRA’s and MIL’s)
•    Ensure traceability and data integrity of bath analysis and plating performance
•    Answer LPA’s, Benchmark, CAPA's actions in a timely manner (Take Containment, Corrective & Preventive actions, Root cause, actions plan, etc..) .

D. EHS & Regulatory Compliance
•    Ensure compliance with environmental regulations (air emissions, wastewater, hazardous waste)
•    Partner with EHS to maintain chemical handling safety and SDS compliance
•    Drive initiatives for waste reduction and sustainability

Essential Functions:

E. Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction
•    Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and cost-out projects in plating and lab areas
•    Reduce chemical consumption, improve efficiency, and extend bath life
•    Implement automation and digitalization (Industry 4.0) in monitoring and controls

F. Cross-Functional Collaboration
•    Work closely with Quality, Production, Maintenance, and Supply Chain
•    Support new product introduction (NPI and STP) and qualification of new plating processes
•    Provide technical training for operators and lab personnel

G. Decision-Making Authority
•    Define process parameters and chemical limits
•    Approve chemical additions and bath corrections
•    Stop production if process integrity or quality is compromised
•    Recommend and Implement capital investments and process changes

H. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
•    Plating yield / first-pass yield (FPY)
•    Process capability (Cp/Cpk)
•    Chemical consumption per unit
•    Bath stability (frequency of out-of-spec conditions)
•    Line uptime / downtime reduction
•    Lab accuracy and turnaround time
•    Environmental compliance metrics

Qualifications:

Specialized Knowledge: 

Education:
•    Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Mechanical Engineering  #LI-MB2

Experience:
•    5 –7+ years in electroplating or surface finishing
•    5 years Supervisory experience.
•    Experience with plating chemistry, bath control, and analytical methods
•    Experience managing lab operations (preferred)

Skills:

Technical Skills:
•    Knowledge of electrochemistry and plating processes
•    Experience with lab testing techniques (titration, spectroscopy atomic absorption, Hull cell)
•    Process control and statistical analysis
•    Familiarity ISO standards

Competencies:
•    Problem-solving and root cause analysis/ 8D / 5 Why’s 
•    Data-driven decision making
•    Leadership and team development
•    Continuous improvement mindset
•    Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration

Additional Information:

Total number of employees that you supervise (directly or indirectly): 5

Dimensions: 

    MESH (TRCR & DACR)
    Warranty PPM
    OTP
    Capital Expenses
    Cost-Out
    Yield
    Sales Volume

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities: 

The Plating SME Engineer provides direct supervision to the Plating Laboratory Supervisor, who is responsible for leading a team of approximately five to six personnel, including Laboratory Technicians and Laboratory Chemical Analysts

Guidance Received: 

1.    Eaton Vision Mission and Values.
2.    Eaton Ethics Code of Conduct.
3.    Eaton Policies and Procedures.
4.    Guidelines and instructions from the Technical Service Manager.
5.    Manufacturing, engineering and quality process guidelines.
6.    EBS guidelines

Major or Unusual Problems: 

    Interacting with resources managing multiple activities  
    Project implementation window vs deadlines 
    Maintain the pipeline fill up for future years 
    Projects delays due to external vendors issues.

Job Progressions: 

    Prior: Senior Engineer
    Next: Manager – Mfg Manager, Technical Service Manager

External Contacts: 

    External vendors contractors (Test equipment supplier)
    Equipment, tools and parts suppliers.
    Corporate Design Engineering and Plating SME Groups (Tech Center).

Principal Accountabilities: 

    Zero accident in the qualification and manufacturing area.
    Business continuity for the manufacturing tools, equipment and testing processes (downtime reduction). 
    Reduce warranty complaints and increase yields.
    Comply and exceed the profit plan yearly goals establish by the division. 
    Calibration compliance for test equipment.
    Internal/External Audits for certifications renewal.

Working Conditions:

•    Combination of office, production floor, and laboratory environment
•    Exposure to chemicals, plating baths, and industrial equipment
•    PPE required when in production and lab areas

•    Proven Experience:
          o    Prioritizes, considers alternatives, and responds quickly and effectively to unexpected and rapidly changing conditions.
          o    Establish networking and interact with key people/groups at all levels of the organization (including suppliers) whose assistance, cooperation, and support may be needed.
          o    Manage effectively high-pressure situation.
          o    Managing multiple projects/situations simultaneously.
          o    Leads and directs a team to support the future direction of an organization. 
          o    Realigns resources to meet changing customer needs. 
          o    Hand-on experience identifying, managing, and executing projects
          o    Corrective and Preventive maintenance experience.
          o    Identification and selection of new technology to improve quality and performance. 
          o    Support internal/external audits including certification renewal.
          o    EHS practices, regulations, and procedures.
          o    Proactive attitude towards problem solving and resolving issues that may affect plant/employee’s health, safety, and operations. 
          o    Availability to work extended hours when required by management.
          o    PC Proficiency including knowledge of MS windows operating systems, MS Office, and Minitab.
          o    Bilingual – English\Spanish with good oral and written communication skills