Senior Specialist Manufacturing Engineering – Rubber Processing & Equipment

Company Description Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2022, Continental generated sales of €39.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.

Guided by the vision of being the customer's first choice for material-driven solutions, the ContiTech group sector focuses on development competence and material expertise for products and systems made of rubber, plastics, metal, and fabrics. These can also be equipped with electronic components in order to optimize them functionally for individual services. ContiTech's industrial growth areas are primarily in the areas of energy, agriculture, construction, and surfaces. In addition, ContiTech serves the automotive and transportation industries as well as rail transport.

Job Description

• Develop, optimize, and industrialize manufacturing processes and equipment for rubber‑based products, with a dedicated focus on automation‑driven hose and belt manufacturing.
• Drive process and equipment development for core rubber technologies including mixing, extrusion, calendaring, assembly, confection, curing, and finishing.
• Lead or support equipment development for fluid handling systems (hoses) or conveying solutions (belts), depending on individual area of specialization.
• Translate product, process, quality, and regulatory requirements into robust machine, tooling, and automation concepts.
• Define and review equipment specifications and support supplier selection, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), ramp‑up, and handover to operations.
• Contribute to the design and integration of automation and/or electrical automation systems, including PLCs, drives, sensors, HMI, and safety functions, according to technical focus.
• Act as a technical problem solver for complex process, equipment, and ramp‑up issues across mechanical, process, and automation disciplines.
• Evaluate and justify capital investments (CAPEX) by preparing ROI analyses, savings calculations, and business‑case justifications for equipment and process solutions.
• Improve manufacturing cost performance through structured technical initiatives addressing machine‑related costs, labor‑related costs, and operational efficiency.
• Support global plant launches, technology transfer, standardization, and drive innovation in manufacturing technologies and processes to enhance competitiveness

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a comparable discipline
• Long-term experience in manufacturing engineering, process, and/or equipment development, preferably within rubber or elastomer processing
• Proven expertise in one or more rubber manufacturing domains, such as: Mixing and compounding, Fluid handling systems (hoses), Conveying solutions (belts)
• Solid understanding of industrial machinery, tooling, and production equipment used in rubber processing
• Experience in developing, reviewing, and approving machine and line specifications for equipment procurement
• Proven capability in CAPEX evaluation, including ROI calculations, savings assessments, and economic justification of machine investments
• Experience with automation and electrical automation systems, with depth depending on individual specialization
• Ability to work across disciplines, effectively combining mechanical, process, and automation perspectives
• Strong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills in complex manufacturing and industrialization environments
• High level of ownership, technical leadership, and ability to operate independently at senior level
• Fluent in English (spoken and written)
• Willingness to travel to production facilities worldwide (40-50%)

Additional Information The well-being of our employees is important to us. That's why we offer exciting career prospects and support you in achieving a good work-life balance with additional benefits such as:

• Training opportunities
• Mobile and flexible working models
• Sabbaticals

and much more...

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.

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Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.