Manager, Process Engineering - Little Rock, AR

Manager, Process Engineering - Little Rock, AR

When you work at Trex, you're helping to grow and enhance a true original. You join a company that boldly launched an entire industry… and still leads the way. We are looking for a Manager, Process Engineering, to be accountable for process stability, capability, and continuous improvement of extrusion-based manufacturing operations. As a Trex Manager, Process Engineering, you will be looked to as an innovator in the manufacturing process and expected to serve as the technical owner of the decking, reprocessing (recycling), and compounding extrusion processes, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation while maximizing throughput, yield, and product quality. This role is a key member of our Engineering team.

Our Operations team is guided by five beliefs: We put people first. We all operate on the same page. We own it. We are always tuned for success. We make dynamic decisions. It's how we started and how we continue to lead the industry – finding intersections of opportunity and hard work, digging in, and digging deep. The result is progress, both for the company and for the people building their careers here. If you are values-driven and share our beliefs, if you are willing to hold yourself and others accountable to the highest standards, then Trex is a place you can call home.

Responsibilities:

• Put safety first – Always!
• Lead and foster our "people first" culture
• Process Ownership & Optimization
• Establish and maintain process windows, setpoints, and control strategies
• Drive reduction of process variability, scrap, and downtime
• Improve OEE through throughput, uptime, and yield improvements
• Startup, Ramp-Up & Stabilization
• Lead process validation during startup and rate increases
• Transition of new or modified processes into stable production
• Extrusion & Compounding Expertise
• Optimize process temperature and pressure profiles
• Manage recycled content and feedstock variability impacts
• Control Strategy & Data-Driven Improvement
• Partner with controls to improve PID loop performance
• Define KPIs and dashboards; leverage SPC and DOE
• Process Governance & Documentation
• Establish standard operating conditions and MOC processes
• Own process FMEAs and technical standards
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Work closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, CI, EHS, and Project Engineering
• Act as a technical advisor during equipment modifications
• Team Development
• Lead and mentor process engineers
• Develop structured problem-solving capability
• Capital Project Execution
• Support and lead capital projects as needed
• Help develop a site-specific YoY capital plan
• Develop defensible scopes, budgets, schedules, and risk plans
• Drive strong vendor specifications and acceptance testing standards
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget

Direct Reports:

Manage and provide ongoing performance, coaching, and professional development opportunities for a team of 4 direct reports.

Travel Requirements:

This position requires 2-3 trips to our HQ location in Winchester, VA, in the first 90 days of employment. After that, you will be required to travel to our HQ location in Winchester, VA, approximately 1-2 times per quarter.

Job Location: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States (on-site)

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Experience: We are looking for leaders with a bachelor's degree in engineering, along with 8+ years of process engineering/project leadership experience. Experience in plant startup, commissioning, and equipment validation is also required. We want to hear from you if you have previous experience as an Engineering Manager. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of: extrusion processes, bulk solids handling & material conveyance, quality control, materials knowledge (plastic composites), statistical process control, recipe management, utilities infrastructure, contractor management.

Salary: Base Salary Range: $105,000 - $130,000 annually

Benefits & Perks:

We believe that real effort should be rewarded. We take care of you as part of our Trex family so you can take care of yours. Here are some of the perks beyond the paycheck:

• Time Off: We'll give you paid holidays and paid vacation.
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Choose from a variety of options. We'll cover a generous share of the cost. Plus, you can earn lower rates through our wellness program.
• 401(k) With Company Match: Save for your retirement, and we'll match it dollar for dollar.
• Tuition Reimbursement: We're all about lifting each other to the next level. When you're ready to get the degree, we'll pick up part of the tab.
• Training and Education: We offer dozens of options to boost your performance – both online and on-site nearby.
• Stock Purchase Program: Invest in Trex at a discounted price.
• Employee Discount Program: When you make the World's No. 1 Decking Brand, you'll probably want to enjoy the finished product yourself. We'll give you a discount.

Who We Are:

Over 30 years ago, our founders created the world's first high-performance, low-maintenance composite decking and outdoor living products. That entrepreneurial spirit still drives us today as we continue to redefine our industry and lead the way for what's next in outdoor living. Today, Trex is the world's #1 brand of sustainability-made, wood-alternative decking, and deck railing – all proudly manufactured in the USA. As a publicly traded company [NYSE: TREX], we take pride in being the largest recycler of plastic film in the country, as well as caring for the communities and the planet where we live. We nurture meaningful connections, from local engagement and investment to eco-friendly products and sustainable manufacturing processes. Everything we do is grounded in our values and guided by our beliefs.

We are looking for candidates who embody our core values: Do the Right Thing. Act with Boldness and Authenticity. Drive Sustainability. Innovate and Adapt.

At Trex, you'll become part of a diverse yet unified team that sustains the trailblazing spirit and strengths that made Trex the industry leader – learning, adapting, solving, and succeeding. We welcome new ideas and fresh perspectives, and we encourage you to bring your best to help us shape the future of Trex.

Career Advancement:

At Trex, you can take pride in craftsmanship. There's an art and a science to what we do, and we never stop working to refine and improve. That means no matter how long you've been with Trex, you have ongoing opportunities to grow your expertise – enhancing your career, your team, and our shared efforts. You will help shape our future.

EEO: Trex is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to these or any other characteristics protected by law.

E-VERIFY: Trex participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. E-Verify is a web-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their employees. For more information, please visit

Equal Opportunity Employer: This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.