Process Engineer - Sintered Metal (Powder Metallurgy)

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.

How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.

Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Process Engineer – Sintered Metal (Powder Metallurgy) to join our Sintered Metal Production team in a highly hands-on, shopfloor-focused role.

This is not a generic engineering position. The value of this role lies in the ability to understand and control the full powder metallurgy system in real production conditions. You will operate at the intersection of powder behavior, tooling design, and press machine performance, ensuring stable, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing.

Success in this role requires strong system thinking across the full chain:
Powder → Machine → Tool → Process → Quality

Any variation in one element impacts the others. You will be responsible for managing these interactions, solving problems in real time, and continuously improving process robustness, tooling performance, and production stability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. First-Line Technical Support (Shopfloor Execution)

• Act as the immediate technical escalation point during production
• Diagnose and resolve in real time:
  • Part weight and density deviations
  • Cracks, lamination, and compaction defects
  • Powder filling and flow inconsistencies
  • Abnormal press forces and machine behavior
• Minimize scrap, downtime, and tooling damage through fast, accurate intervention
• Apply deep process understanding rather than purely theoretical analysis

2. Powder Metallurgy Process Expertise

• Analyze powder flow behavior and batch variability
• Understand cavity filling dynamics, especially for complex geometries
• Evaluate density gradients and their impact on part performance
• Identify how powder characteristics influence defects and tool wear

3. Tooling & Press System Interaction

• Develop strong understanding of tooling design for compaction processes
• Evaluate interactions between:
  • Powder flow
  • Press forces
  • Machine dynamics
• Identify root causes of tooling-related issues such as wear, cracks, and misalignment
• Review, challenge, and validate tooling designs
• Propose technical improvements based on structured failure analysis

4. Tooling Development & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate closely with tooling and design engineering teams
• Improve tooling concepts to enhance robustness and stability
• Drive initiatives to:
  • Reduce tool wear
  • Extend tool lifetime
  • Improve process capability and repeatability
• Adapt tooling to align with machine capability and powder behavior
• Translate shopfloor feedback into design and process improvements

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

Technical & Functional Expertise

• Strong understanding of powder metallurgy and compaction processes
• Knowledge of powder flow behavior and material variability
• Experience or strong capability in tooling design and press systems
• Ability to connect material science, tooling mechanics, and machine performance

Core Skills & Mindset

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capability
• Hands-on, shopfloor-oriented approach
• Ability to react quickly and effectively under production pressure
• System-thinking mindset across interconnected processes
• Strong cause-and-effect reasoning skills

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We don’t want average. We want someone who can operate where theory meets reality—on the shopfloor, under pressure, and with precision. Someone who understands that stable production is built on mastering the interaction between material, tooling, and machine.

If you’re driven to solve complex industrial problems, improve processes at their core, and make a direct impact on manufacturing performance, this role is built for you.

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Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities