Process Improvement Engineer

PMB Defence

PMB Defence is a world leading manufacturer of submarine battery systems, which started delivering and supporting the main storage batteries for Australia's Collins Class Submarines in 1989.

PMB Defence has now grown its business by winning various local and international contracts, supplying both traditional as well as new technology submarine battery systems to Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and other international customers by specialising in lead acid, nickel zinc and lithium battery system solutions.

In 2023, PMB Defence was awarded Export Business of the Year, and in 2022 was awarded SME of the year at the Australian Defence Industry Awards. In 2023 and 2024, ADM listed PMB Defence as the fourth largest defence exporter in Australia.

This position is available with Pacific Marine Batteries Pty Ltd which is an entity within PMB Defence.

The location of this position is Osborne, South Australia, 5017.

About the role

This will assist with the integration and review of both existing and new processes, whilst identifying waste in each process and ensuring we meet our Quality and Engineering requirements. This role will support the manufacturing team looking at ways to resolve daily issues raised and improve the assembly process for all battery types. This is a full time, permanent role. Key responsibilities will include:

• Integrating processes and procedures for new export products recently acquired from overseas.
• Providing and feeding back opportunity for improvement and identifying areas of potential waste.
• Liaising with the Quality team and ensuring the Quality requirements for the specific products are being upheld and clearly documented.
• Liaising with Engineering to ensure we are meeting the requirement of the specific product we are manufacturing.
• Ensuring plate formation meets/exceeds customer requirements by providing correct programming profiles for the charging processes.
• Reviewing and ensuring existing processes are followed correctly.
• Providing and feeding back opportunity for improvement and identifying areas of potential waste.
• Liaising with the Quality team and ensuring the Quality requirements for the specific products are being upheld and clearly documented.
• Liaising with Engineering to ensure we are meeting the requirement for the specific product we are manufacturing.
• Recommendations on Lead/Antimony/Calcium/Selenium percentage requirements within certain processes.
• Providing support to the Manufacturing/Production team to ensure issues raised are resolved in a timely manner to ensure consistency in our processes.
• Attending the daily control room meeting providing support to the team with a focus on improving process.
• Creating clear and concise procedures that capture all methods of work that can be used to train employees on the correct method of assembly.
• Liaising with Supervisors to ensure best practice can be achieved and is captured within the content of the documents.
• Daily involvement with Lean workshops to ensure all areas of inefficiency can be clearly identified and reduced to increase production capacity and minimize waste.
• Involvement with all NCR reviews providing support on RCCA.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline
• Experience with battery chemistry and lead acid formation processes
• Experience in electrical circuits and DC power systems
• Experience with lead lead casting including flow analysis reports
• Experience in working with various acids with varying specific gravities
• Experience with commissioning lead acid batteries in large strings
• Experience in Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma
• Understanding quality processes relating to ISO9001
• Experience in a production role within a low to medium volume manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience in manufacturing submarine batteries.
• Computer skills relating to Microsoft Excel and Word
• Six Sigma Black belt and experience using MiniTab
• Good communication skills both written and verbal.
• Able to deal with difficult situations and the ability to back yourself with suitable facts.

Other requirements

This position will be required to:

• Be able to complete pre employment checks including a police clearance, pre employment medical including drug and alcohol screening and lead in blood checks.

How to apply

Please submit a resume to

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $95,000.00 – $115,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person