Research Development Process Engineer Jobs in Warner Robins, GA

Kumho Tire is one of the world's leading tire manufacturers, with more than 60 years of innovation in tire technology, engineering, and manufacturing excellence. Since opening our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia, we have remained committed to producing high-quality tires while fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, teamwork, and operational excellence.

We are seeking a Process Engineer to support our Automated Tire Building operations. This role is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving manufacturing processes, production specifications, product quality, and process standards to support efficient, high-quality tire manufacturing. The ideal candidate has experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement, root cause analysis, and quality systems within a high-volume production environment.

The Process Engineer is responsible for managing manufacturing process specifications, supporting new product introductions, improving production quality, troubleshooting manufacturing issues, and driving continuous process improvement within the Automated Tire Building area. This position works closely with Production, Quality, Research & Development, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to optimize manufacturing performance, improve product quality, reduce defects, and support operational excellence through standardized manufacturing processes.

• Manage and maintain manufacturing process specifications for the Automated Tire Building process.
• Review engineering and R&D specifications to verify manufacturing readiness and production feasibility.
• Conduct processability evaluations for new product launches and engineering changes.
• Support trial production runs, validate manufacturing processes, and document test results.
• Analyze manufacturing data, production performance, and quality metrics to identify process improvement opportunities.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to improve product quality and manufacturing efficiency.
• Investigate production defects, process deviations, and equipment-related quality concerns to minimize scrap and improve yield.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing processes and collaborate with Production, Maintenance, and Quality teams to resolve process issues.
• Develop, revise, publish, and maintain manufacturing process specifications, work instructions, and technical standards.
• Maintain revision history and documentation in accordance with company quality management procedures.
• Monitor manufacturing process capability and implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and reduce variation.
• Evaluate defective tire samples and production data to identify trends and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Develop and support process standardization projects to improve consistency, safety, and operational performance.
• Evaluate tooling, jigs, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment for process improvements and increased efficiency.
• Support capital equipment improvement projects and provide technical recommendations for quality-related investments.
• Assist with equipment and process improvements in collaboration with suppliers and external vendors.
• Support uniformity quality systems by monitoring tire uniformity data, test equipment accuracy, and process capability.
• Assist OEM-related quality activities and monitor initial production performance for new products.
• Prepare documentation and support internal and external quality audits, including customer audits, IATF 16949, ISO quality standards, and international certification requirements.
• Maintain and update Control Plans, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), and other manufacturing quality documentation.
• Document engineering activities, technical reports, process changes, and project updates while communicating results to leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required.
• Experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, or continuous improvement within a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience supporting automated manufacturing equipment, industrial production processes, or tire manufacturing is preferred.

• Manufacturing process engineering
• Process improvement and continuous improvement
• Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen methodologies
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
• Statistical analysis and data analysis
• Manufacturing process optimization
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• PFMEA and Control Plan development
• IATF 16949 and ISO quality systems
• New product introduction (NPI)
• Manufacturing specifications and technical documentation
• Process validation and production trials
• Product quality improvement
• Manufacturing troubleshooting
• Industrial automation and automated production equipment
• Microsoft Excel, Word, and technical reporting
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering, production, maintenance, and quality teams

At Kumho Tire Georgia, you'll join a global manufacturing organization committed to innovation, engineering excellence, quality, and continuous improvement. Our engineers play a critical role in improving manufacturing processes, advancing production technology, and delivering world-class products in a collaborative, safety-focused environment.

If you have experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, industrial engineering, continuous improvement, production optimization, or automated manufacturing, we encourage you to apply and help drive manufacturing excellence at Kumho Tire Georgia.