Combustion and Thermal System Engineer

Position Summary:

The Combustion & Thermal Systems Engineer responsible for the engineering, reliability, optimization, compliance, and continuous improvement of heat treat and hot work furnace systems. This role serves as the subject matter expert for combustion systems, pyrometry, controls, instrumentation, and thermal processing equipment. The engineer will lead efforts to improve furnace performance, reduce downtime, ensure AMS2750 compliance, support aerospace customer requirements, and execute capital and process improvement projects that enhance operational efficiency and product quality.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide engineering leadership for all combustion, thermal processing, and furnace control systems throughout the facility.
• Design, analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize industrial combustion systems, burners, gas trains, airflow systems, and thermal profiles.
• Serve as the facility's technical authority for AMS2750 compliance, Temperature Uniformity Surveys (TUS), System Accuracy Tests (SAT), and calibration programs.
• Develop engineering standards, preventative maintenance strategies, and reliability improvement initiatives for all thermal processing equipment.
• Conduct root cause analyses of furnace failures, quality escapes, and equipment downtime, implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead furnace modernization projects, control upgrades, instrumentation improvements, and automation initiatives.
• Analyze furnace performance data and establish KPI metrics related to uptime, cycle performance, and process capability.
• Partner with Quality, Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to maintain Nadcap accreditation and customer requirements.
• Specify, select, and validate instrumentation, thermocouples, sensors, gas analyzers, PLCs, and control systems.
• Review and approve technical and compliance documentation.
• Manage outside contractors and OEM service providers supporting furnace maintenance and major repairs.
• Support customer, regulatory, and Nadcap audits as the technical representative for thermal processing systems.
• Identify and execute cost reduction, energy efficiency, and process optimization opportunities.
• Lead capital expenditure projects from concept through implementation, commissioning, and validation.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills:

• Advanced understanding of combustion engineering, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and thermal processing.
• Expertise in industrial heat treat furnace design, operation, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Strong working knowledge of AMS2750, NFPA86 Code, Nadcap requirements, and aerospace heat treating standards.
• Experience with PLC programming, HMI systems, industrial controls, data acquisition systems, and instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, PIDs, combustion drawings, and mechanical layouts.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis methodologies including 5-Why, Fishbone, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Knowledge of process control theory, calibration methodologies, and statistical process control concepts.
• Experience utilizing CMMS systems and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Intermediate application of Microsoft Office Programs (Excel, Outlook, Teams)                                                                                       

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience supporting industrial thermal processing equipment, combustion systems, or aerospace heat treat operations.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license desired
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification desired
• Experience within aerospace manufacturing, forging, heat treating, or metallurgical processing environments desired
• Demonstrated experience leading capital equipment installations and process improvement projects desired

Success Metrics

• Furnace uptime and reliability improvements.
• Reduction in pyrometry and compliance findings.
• Reduction in maintenance and operating costs.
• Successful completion of capital and modernization projects.
• Improved process capability and product quality.
• Maintenance of customer and Nadcap compliance requirements.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to airborne particles and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Shultz Steel LLC is an equal opportunity employer. The company's policy and practice is to provide equal employment opportunities and to assure those opportunities, without regard to age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, gender, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation including gender identity or gender expression, religion, (including religious dress and religious grooming), mental or physical disability, legally protected medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive decision making, or any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal anti-discrimination laws. 

With more than 120 operations and approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, Precision Castparts Corp. is the market leader in manufacturing large, complex structural investment castings, airfoil castings, forged components, aerostructures and highly engineered, critical fasteners for aerospace applications. In addition, we are the leading producer of airfoil castings for the industrial gas turbine market. We also manufacture extruded seamless pipe, fittings, and forgings for power generation and oil & gas applications; commercial and military airframe aerostructures; and metal alloys and other materials for the casting and forging industries. With such critical applications, we insist on quality and dependability – not just in the materials and products we make, but in the people we recruit.

PCC is relentless in its dedication to being a high-quality, low-cost and on-time producer; delivering the highest value to its customers while continually pursuing strategic, profitable growth.

In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Chairman and CEO Warren E. Buffett, acquired Precision Castparts Corp.