Process Engineer at Thunderbird Molding in Shelbyville, IN. Job type: Full-time. Pay: $80,000-$90,000 per year.
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Thunderbird Molding
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Pay
$80,000–90,000/yr
Location
Shelbyville, IN
Trade
Production & Assembly
About the role
We are seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to lead the development, standardization, and optimization of our injection molding operations. In this role, you will apply scientific molding principles to establish repeatable, data-driven process windows across a dynamic manufacturing environment.
With press capabilities ranging up to 1,500 tons and a diverse portfolio including tight-tolerance defense components, clean-room medical parts, and lens-grade clear plastics, this role offers incredible variety. You will act as the technical authority on the production floor—driving scrap reduction, managing tool transfers, optimizing our quick-mold-change systems for short runs, and standardizing cycle efficiencies for scalable high-volume production.
Scientific Process Development: Establish, validate, and document robust, decoupled molding processes from scratch for new molds, complex resins, and tool transfers.
Process Optimization & Scrap Reduction: Analyze plant-wide molding performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement data-driven improvements to increase throughput and yield on everything from heavy-tonnage parts to tight-tolerance micro components.
Defect Troubleshooting: Serve as the technical escalation point for recurring quality issues (e.g., splay or weld lines in clear plastics, dimensional shifts in precision parts); solve problems at the root-cause level rather than relying on band-aid process tweaks.
Tooling Transfers & Sampling: Lead sample runs and establish base parameter setup sheets for incoming transfer tools, new tooling, and engineering changes.
Standardization & Documentation: Maintain accurate, controlled process parameter sheets for all machines; ensure setup techs and operators run within approved process windows.
Floor Training & Mentorship: Coach and train mold technicians and shift leads on fundamental processing concepts, quick-mold-change protocols, and standard operating procedures.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Tooling, Quality, and Scheduling to ensure smooth production flow, minimize changeover delays on short runs, and meet rigorous customer quality targets (Medical, Defense, Aerospace).
What we're looking for
Molding Experience: 3–5+ years of dedicated process engineering or senior processing technician experience within a custom or high-volume plastic injection molding facility.
Scientific Molding Knowledge: Practical, demonstrated understanding of Scientific / Decoupled Molding methodologies (formal RJG, Master Molder certification, or Paulson training is a significant advantage).
Technical Troubleshooting: Strong hands-on knowledge of resin behavior (including clear plastics and engineered resins), mold cooling, auxiliary equipment, and press hydraulics/electrics.
Equipment Knowledge: Experience working with a wide range of press sizes (small tonnage up to 1,000+ tons) and quick-mold-change systems is highly preferred.
Process Documentation: Experience setting up standardized machine recipe sheets and running structured mold trials.
Education & Background: Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on processing track record.
Perks & incentives
The employer

Thunderbird Molding
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