Business Unit - Ceramic Core Process Owner
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About the Role
Business Unit - Ceramic Core Process Owner
Location: Whitehall, MI
Commutable From: Whitehall, Montague, Muskegon, Norton Shores, Roosevelt Park, Grand Haven, Hart, Fremont, Ludington, Allendale, and Grand Rapids.
$120,000 – $150,000 USD per year
Travel Required: 50%
About Our Client
Cruise Control Recruitment is partnering with a global tier-1 manufacturer of advanced structural and precision components for the aerospace, defense, and commercial transportation sectors. A recognized leader in high-performance materials and complex manufacturing, our client develops mission-critical solutions that enhance fuel efficiency, reduce weight, and improve performance across modern flight and transportation platforms.
Role Summary
As the Business Unit Ceramic Core Process Owner, you will serve as the Single Point of Accountability (SPA) for ceramic core manufacturing processes, process control, and fixed process governance across all internal facilities and external suppliers. Operating from the Whitehall, MI facility, you will provide enterprise leadership for ceramic core manufacturing and utilization, establish technical specifications, champion change management, and drive yield, strength, and process capability improvements that maximize downstream investment casting success.
Essential Functions
Single Point of Accountability (SPA): Provide technical authority and enterprise leadership for ceramic core manufacturing, process control, and fixed process governance across all core manufacturing locations.
Standards & Technical Specifications: Establish, maintain, and continuously improve business unit standards, material requirements, manufacturing methods, inspection criteria, and qualification standards for internal facilities and external suppliers.
Audit & Governance: Lead monthly process audits of internal manufacturing plants, identify process gaps, oversee timely corrective actions, and report audit findings directly to executive leadership.
Process Improvement & Downstream Yield: Drive initiatives to enhance ceramic core yield, dimensional capability, strength, and consistency, directly maximizing downstream investment casting performance.
Core Handling & Treatment Standardization: Develop best practices for ceramic core strengthening, impregnations, sealants, coatings, storage, transportation, inspection, and contamination prevention prior to wax injection.
Die Locating & Nesting Schemes: Standardize methods for locating ceramic cores within wax injection dies, including locator design, support materials, nesting schemes, and process controls.
Technology Evaluation & Implementation: Evaluate, qualify, and deploy emerging ceramic core technologies, including advanced core bodies, new ceramic systems, surface coatings, locator tech, and automated inspection.
Supply Chain & Supplier Management: Partner with internal plants and external suppliers to ensure reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective ceramic core delivery.
Dashboards & Executive Metrics: Establish BU KPIs and executive dashboards to track process capability, fixed process adherence, supplier performance, and core quality.
Mentorship & NPI Support: Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and provide technical mentoring to core manufacturing engineers, casting product engineers, and plant operations teams.
Basic Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience: Minimum 8 years of engineering or manufacturing experience in investment casting, ceramic core manufacturing, advanced ceramics, or related manufacturing processes.
Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of statistical process control (SPC), process capability, root cause analysis, and manufacturing quality systems.
Governance & Standards: Demonstrated experience authoring engineering specifications, manufacturing standards, technical procedures, and process documentation across multi-site environments.
Leadership Skills: Proven ability to influence manufacturing organizations, lead cross-functional technical initiatives across multiple sites, and drive standardization without direct authority.
Travel: Willingness to travel 50% to manufacturing facilities and supplier locations.
Compliance & Legal:
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States (visa sponsorship is not available).
Must meet ITAR requirements as a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder, Political Asylee, or Refugee).
Preferred Qualifications
Experience leading enterprise process control, fixed process, or manufacturing governance programs in aerospace investment casting.
Extensive knowledge of ceramic core materials, binder systems, firing processes, injection molding, finishing, and ceramic characterization/failure analysis.
Experience developing supplier qualification requirements, technical specifications, and executive-level KPI governance dashboards.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Formal project management experience leading large, cross-functional technical initiatives.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
How to Apply
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Cruise Control Recruitment | Global Partners in Engineering Talent
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