Process Engineer

Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
Terms & Conditions: Full-time Local Terms

A strong candidate has been identified through our succession planning.

While a strong internal candidate has been identified through our succession planning process, we remain open to additional applications to ensure that all individuals who meet the required skills, performance, experience, and leadership criteria outlined in the JD have a fair opportunity to be considered.

All resumes must be in English.

JOB PURPOSE

Ensure the continuous improvement and stability of production processes by eliminating losses, defects and waste, applying UMS methodologies and acting as technical trainer and reference in operational excellence. The role is critical to the development of the factory (zero defects, zero waste, zero losses), applying the full range of Focused Improvement methods across Safety, Quality, Business Priority/Cost Deployment, Autonomous Maintenance, Customer Service and Agility. Contributes directly to the development of semi-autonomous teams, ensuring high standards of safety, quality, efficiency and sustainability.

Most Complex Aspects of the Role

• Root-cause analysis of losses across complex, multi-variable production problems, applying the full UMS toolset (FI, AM, PM, Q, PD).

• Proposing and validating effective countermeasures and technical standards while balancing safety, quality, cost and delivery.

• Driving consistent digital/automation deployment across lines with varying technical maturity.

• Sustaining influence and teamwork to advance semi-autonomous teams without formal authority over the crews.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyse losses and operational problems, identifying root causes through direct floor observation, data analysis and hands-on involvement

• Design and drive action plans and Run to Standard (R2S) implementation (data collection/analysis, loss prioritisation, problem solving, SMED, AM activities and machine settings/centerlines), building multidisciplinary teams

• Establish and validate technical standards defining basic operating conditions

• Act as technical trainer for line teams, coaching in phenomena identification, root-cause analysis and establishment of countermeasures

• Analyse operational data — including accuracy of MMP Code data — to detect patterns and make informed, data-driven decisions

• Validate process improvements and establish/update revised basic conditions on the line

• Lead or coordinate digital and automation project deployment; suggest automation solutions where relevant expertise exists

• Provide inputs to the EEM pillar (MP data); support Factory OR and DBNR improvement in collaboration with Customer Service and Agility

• Coordinate with other departments and external agents (e.g. equipment suppliers) to implement technical improvements

• Optimise process design, resource allocation and NVAA reduction

• Identify good practices and extend them to other lines

• Foster a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement, acting as a reference in the application of good practices

Stakeholders and Purpose

Production (Operators, Shift Team Leader, Area Leader): Day-to-day operations

Transformation (ManEx Coordinator / Continuous Improvement Specialist): Ensure alignment with Unilever UMS methodology

Equipment Suppliers: Restore basic equipment conditions and implement technical improvements

Engineering, Transformation, Quality, Safety (engineers, project technicians, work teams): Collaboration on projects and daily operations management

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

University degree, Engineering specialisation, preferably with FMCG manufacturing background (Packaging: mechanical, electrical, robotics; or Processing: product technology knowledge). Potential development role for technicians or technical operators.

Experience

2 years of prior experience.

Additional Training:

Data analysis and visualisation tools; statistics and process control; basics of coding; technical drawing / 3D modelling

Languages

Spanish native or full professional proficiency.

English: Intermediate level.

Other

Business acumen linking manufacturing performance to finance KPIs and BG targets; project management awareness; behaviors aligned with Unilever's Bias for Action, Accountability & Responsibility, Growth Mindset and Consumer Love.

Time to full performance 

Approximately 1 year in role.