Who You’ll Work With
The Lead, Manufacturing Process Engineer at Air MI is a technical leader within Air Manufacturing Engineering responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining the manufacturing processes used to create Nike Air components. This role drives process capability and manufacturing readiness in alignment with the Air MI Manufacturing System (AMS), focusing on standardization, flow, stability, and Lean-driven continuous improvement.
The role reports to the Senior Manager, Process Engineering in AM93 in St. Charles and partners with Product Development Design, Tooling, Quality Systems Engineering, Automation Engineering, and Air Manufacturing Operations to deliver safe, scalable, standardized, data-driven processes.
Who We Are Looking For
The Lead, Process Engineering will mentor process engineers, drive process optimization and technical excellence, integrate digital and automation solutions, lead continuous improvement, promote workplace safety, and advance manufacturing engineering standards and real-time data systems.
The ideal candidate has experience with critical-to-quality control plans, statistical process control, PFMEA, process validations, predictive modeling or digital twins, and process simulation.
Required qualifications:
- At least 6 years of process engineering experience in a high-volume manufacturing production environment in plastics, semiconductor, technology, or food and beverage industries.
- Bachelor’s degree in plastics, chemical, mechanical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering, or a suitable combination of education, experience, or training.
- Experience with process simulation, optimization, digital twin technology, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, and statistical modeling or analysis.
- Experience troubleshooting complex manufacturing equipment using mechanical, process, and automation fundamentals.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in thermoforming of thermoplastic polyurethanes, RF welding, and part trimming.
- Experience in product development and validation in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Ability to work effectively with associates at all levels and adapt communication style to different audiences.
What You’ll Work On
- Serve as the technical subject matter expert for AM93 manufacturing processes, including thermoforming, RF welding, material processing, tooling interactions, and process capability improvement.
- Lead complex troubleshooting and root-cause investigations involving quality losses, downtime, process variation, yield reduction, scrap generation, and equipment reliability.
- Lead process design, validation, capability, and optimization to support throughput, OEE, Cpk requirements, and Air MI network standardization.
- Drive process optimization and continuous improvement using engineering fundamentals, statistical analysis, experimental design, root-cause analysis, and digital and automation solutions.
- Oversee process monitoring and troubleshooting to improve machine availability and response to abnormalities.
- Create and validate control plans, process specifications, validation packages, standard work, and engineering documentation.
- Use manufacturing data systems and digital tools to identify trends, predict process performance, and improve decision-making.
- Establish and maintain process standards, validation protocols, documentation, and best practices.
NIKE, Inc. provides interview accommodations, a generous total rewards package, a casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and professional development opportunities. NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.