About the position
Join our Engineering Team! Key Technology has been providing innovative solutions to the food industry since 1948. We are a global leader in the design and manufacture of food processing technology. Our products range from conveying, digital sorting, and process automation technologies. Corporate headquarters are located in beautiful eastern Walla Walla, Washington. Here we continually strive to find and fulfill our customers' growing needs. As a Mechanical Engineer at Key, you will design, specify and test major systems, subsystems and components of process and conveying systems. You will even plan, direct, coordinate, and at times, perform activities involved in the fabrication, operation, application, installation, and repair of mechanical or electromechanical components and subsystems. Your primary duties will include taking designs of components from initial concept to production, using engineering tools such as 3D CAD and analysis packages in the design process. You will be responsible for designing any special test equipment or fixturing for reliability and functionality tests, developing methods and procedures for testing components, and solving problems related to the design, manufacture, function, and reliability of equipment. You will gather data from the field, manufacturing floor, quality control, and other sources to determine the cause of problems. Partnering with the Manufacturing Engineering group, you will develop processes for the manufacture of components and work directly with suppliers on the specification, development, and application of purchased parts. Additionally, you will collaborate with support personnel in the fabrication of test control apparatus and equipment, and in the testing of components. Your role will also involve working with the quality control group to ensure parts conform to specifications and developing quality plans for parts. You may travel to customer sites to install beta test components and subsystems and assist/advise in the repair of existing equipment. Working directly with customers, you will solve performance and reliability-related problems with components and subsystems. You may also be asked to lead small teams in designing major components or subsystems or in structured problem-solving tasks of a subsystem or major component. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Responsibilities
- Takes designs of components from initial concept to production.
- Uses engineering tools such as 3D CAD and analysis packages in the design process.
- Responsible for designing any special test equipment or fixturing for reliability and functionality tests.
- Develops methods and procedures for testing components.
- Solves problems related to the design, manufacture, function and reliability of equipment.
- Gathers data from the field, manufacturing floor, quality control and other sources in determining cause of the problem.
- Partners with the Manufacturing Engineering group to develop processes for the manufacture of components.
- Works directly with suppliers on specification, development and application of purchased parts.
- Works with support personnel in fabrication of test control apparatus and equipment, and in the testing of components.
- Works with the quality control group to make sure parts conform to specifications.
- Develops quality plans for parts.
- Travels to customer sites to install beta test components and subsystems and to assist/advise in the repair of existing equipment.
- Works directly with customers to solve performance and reliability related problems with components and subsystems.
- May be asked to lead small teams in designing major components or subsystems or in a structured problem-solving task of a subsystem or major component.
Requirements
- BSME and five to eight years of related field experience, or MSME with up to two years of related experience.
- Experience in the design of food processing equipment and project management is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience in the design of sheet metal, machined, extruded, cast and welded parts desired.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD and 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
- Experience in modeling using FEM and structural design analysis.
- Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced calculus, modern algebra, and advanced statistical theory.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
- Strong writing skills for reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Effective presentation skills to respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in project management within the food processing industry.
Benefits
- Medical coverage through your choice of a high deductible health plan or a PPO plan, including prescription drug coverage.
- Flexible spending accounts, when allowed by tax laws.
- Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with a 2x match, up to $1,000 annually.
- Dental and Vision Coverage.
- Paid life insurance and disability insurance, with options to purchase additional coverage.
- Paid Maternity Leave.
- Optional coverages including Long-term Care, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance.
- 401k plan with a 100% match on the first 3% of employee contributions, and 50% on the next 2% of contributions.
- Educational Assistance reimbursement.
- Accrued paid time off (PTO).
- 10 paid holidays annually.
- Eligibility for a 5% bonus based on company eligibility requirements.
