How to Apply to Hillenbrand

Key Takeaways

Research the specific Hillenbrand brand (Coperion, Milacron, Rotex, etc.) associated with the role you're targeting — tailor your resume and interview talking points to that brand's technology, markets, and recent developments rather than speaking generically about Hillenbrand at the corporate level
With only approximately 126+ open positions posted at any given time, set up Workday job alerts immediately and apply within the first few days of a posting going live — smaller applicant pools mean faster screening but also higher scrutiny per application
Quantify every major achievement on your resume using industrial manufacturing KPIs — OEE improvement percentages, scrap reduction figures, project delivery timelines, sales pipeline values, or cost savings from lean initiatives — to align with Hillenbrand's data-driven continuous improvement culture
Manually review and correct every field in your Workday profile after auto-parsing, paying special attention to technical certifications, SAP module expertise, and language skills that serve as recruiter search filters
Prepare for interviews by developing two to three detailed STAR-format stories that demonstrate how you've applied continuous improvement or lean thinking to solve specific industrial manufacturing challenges — this directly maps to the Hillenbrand Operating Model philosophy
If applying for international or multi-site roles, explicitly highlight cross-cultural collaboration experience and language capabilities both on your resume and in interview discussions, as this is a genuine operational need across Hillenbrand's 40+ country footprint

About Hillenbrand

Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI) is a global industrial company headquartered in Batesville, Indiana, that designs, manufactures, and services highly-engineered processing equipment and solutions for industries including plastics, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and recycling. Operating through a portfolio of powerful brands — most notably Coperion, Milacron, Rotex, and others acquired through strategic growth — Hillenbrand has transformed from its historical roots into a diversified industrial leader with approximately 10,000 employees operating across 40+ countries. The company's market position is defined by its deep application expertise in material handling, compounding, extrusion, and size reduction technologies, serving customers who demand precision-engineered solutions for complex processing challenges. Hillenbrand's culture is rooted in what it calls the Hillenbrand Operating Model (HOM), a continuous improvement framework that influences everything from shop floor operations to strategic planning. Employees frequently describe a culture that values operational excellence, lean thinking, and cross-brand collaboration. The company attracts professionals who want to solve tangible engineering and manufacturing problems at a global scale — people who find satisfaction in seeing their work translate into physical equipment running in plants worldwide. With its relatively lean corporate structure and decentralized brand operations, Hillenbrand often offers employees broader responsibilities and faster exposure to leadership opportunities than larger industrial conglomerates. The company's ongoing commitment to sustainability and circular economy solutions, particularly in plastics recycling technology, has also drawn mission-driven engineers and commercial professionals looking to make a measurable environmental impact through industrial innovation.

Application Process

1
Identify the Right Brand and Location
Hillenbrand's roles are distributed across its family of brands (Coperion, Milacron, Rotex, etc.) and span global locations from Batesville, Indiana to Stuttgart, Germany to facilities across Asia. Before applying, determine which brand aligns with your expertise — for example, Coperion focuses on compounding and extrusion, while Milacron covers injection molding and hot runner systems. This context will help you tailor your application and demonstrate familiarity with the specific business unit's technology and customer base.
2
Create or Log Into Your Workday Candidate Profile
Hillenbrand uses Workday (specifically the wd3.myworkdayjobs.com instance) as its applicant tracking system. You'll need to create a candidate account, which involves entering your contact information, uploading your resume, and optionally linking your LinkedIn profile for auto-population of fields. Save your Workday credentials — you'll use this same account to track application status and apply to additional Hillenbrand roles across any of its brands.
3
Complete the Online Application with Precision
Workday will parse your uploaded resume into structured fields, but auto-parsing frequently introduces errors — especially with technical job titles, certifications, and multi-location work history common in industrial machinery careers. Manually review every parsed field, correct formatting issues, and ensure that your job titles, employment dates, and technical skills are accurately represented. Complete all required and optional fields, as Hillenbrand's recruiters may use Workday filters to surface candidates by specific criteria like SAP module expertise, language skills, or machining certifications.
4
Respond to Screening Questions Strategically
Expect Workday screening questions specific to the role — these may cover your years of experience with particular technologies (e.g., CNC programming, plastics extrusion, SAP MM/WM modules), willingness to relocate, work authorization status, and language proficiency for international roles. These questions are often used as knockout criteria, so answer them thoroughly and honestly. For roles like Sales Engineer or Sales Manager, expect questions about your territory management experience or familiarity with specific end markets like plastics compounding.
5
Initial Recruiter or HR Phone Screen
Candidates who pass the initial screening typically hear back within one to three weeks for a phone or video conversation with an HR recruiter or talent acquisition specialist. This 20-30 minute call commonly covers your career narrative, salary expectations, relocation flexibility, and baseline technical qualifications. Given Hillenbrand's global footprint, be prepared to discuss your comfort with international collaboration, travel requirements, and cross-cultural communication if the role involves multi-site responsibilities.
6
Technical or Hiring Manager Interview(s)
The next stage typically involves one or two deeper interviews with the hiring manager and potentially a peer or cross-functional leader. For engineering and operations roles, expect technical questions about process improvement methodologies (lean, Six Sigma), equipment design, and problem-solving scenarios specific to industrial manufacturing. For commercial roles like Sales Coordinator or Sales Manager, anticipate discussions about managing OEM relationships, understanding capital equipment sales cycles, and navigating complex quoting processes. These interviews may be conducted via video for remote candidates or on-site at the relevant facility.
7
On-Site Visit and Final Evaluation
For senior or critical roles — such as Senior Operations Manager — Hillenbrand commonly invites finalists to an on-site visit at the relevant manufacturing facility or office. This day may include a plant tour, meetings with cross-functional stakeholders, and a presentation or case exercise. This stage is as much about your assessment of the work environment as it is about theirs — pay attention to shop floor organization, employee engagement, and how the Hillenbrand Operating Model manifests in daily operations, as these are strong conversation points in final discussions.

Resume Tips for Hillenbrand

critical

Lead with Industrial Machinery and Process Expertise

Hillenbrand's core business is highly-engineered processing equipment, so your resume must immediately signal relevance to this domain. If you've worked with extrusion systems, compounding equipment, injection molding machines, material handling systems, or related technologies, position this experience in your summary and top bullet points. Even adjacent experience in food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or chemical processing is highly relevant — frame it in terms Hillenbrand's recruiters will recognize.

critical

Quantify Operational and Manufacturing Impact

Hillenbrand's culture is steeped in continuous improvement through its Hillenbrand Operating Model. Demonstrate your alignment by quantifying achievements: 'Reduced machine changeover time by 35% through SMED implementation,' 'Managed $12M capital equipment installation project on time and under budget,' or 'Increased OEE from 72% to 88% across three production lines.' Use metrics that resonate with industrial manufacturing — throughput, uptime, yield, scrap reduction, safety incident rates, and on-time delivery percentages.

critical

Mirror the Exact Technical Terminology from Job Postings

Workday's search and filter functionality relies heavily on keyword matching. Hillenbrand job postings use specific terminology — 'CAM programming,' 'SAP MM/WM,' 'plastics extruder,' 'compounding machine,' 'MasterCare' (their service brand). Incorporate these exact phrases into your resume rather than generic equivalents. If a posting says 'Sales Engineer' with experience in 'plastics compounding,' use those precise words rather than 'technical sales representative' or 'polymer processing.' This specificity helps your profile surface when recruiters search Workday's candidate database.

recommended

Highlight Global and Cross-Functional Collaboration

With operations in 40+ countries and a multi-brand structure, Hillenbrand values candidates who can work effectively across cultures, time zones, and functional boundaries. Include examples of international project coordination, cross-site standardization efforts, or experience working with distributed teams in Europe and Asia. Mention language skills prominently — many Hillenbrand roles, particularly those based in Germany (like the SAP MM/WM Specialist), require or prefer multilingual candidates.

recommended

Showcase Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement Credentials

The Hillenbrand Operating Model draws heavily on lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles. List relevant certifications (Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Lean practitioner, Kaizen facilitation) in a dedicated certifications section and back them up with implementation examples in your experience bullets. If you've led value stream mapping exercises, implemented 5S programs, or driven Kaizen events on a manufacturing floor, make these achievements prominent rather than buried in job description lists.

recommended

Use a Clean, Workday-Optimized Format

Workday's resume parser handles standard reverse-chronological formats best. Avoid multi-column layouts, text boxes, headers/footers containing critical information, and graphic elements that the parser cannot read. Use standard section headings (Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) and submit in .docx or .pdf format. Keep your resume to two pages maximum — Hillenbrand's hiring managers review high volumes for specialized roles and appreciate concise, well-organized documents.

nice_to_have

Include Relevant Software and ERP Systems

Many Hillenbrand roles require proficiency with specific software platforms. For engineering roles, list CAD/CAM tools (SolidWorks, Mastercam, Siemens NX), PLM systems, and simulation software. For operations and supply chain roles, detail your SAP module experience (MM, WM, PP, SD) and specify whether you've used SAP S/4HANA. For quality roles, include experience with statistical process control tools, measurement systems, and relevant quality standards (ISO 9001, IATF 16949). Create a dedicated Technical Skills section that makes this information scannable.

nice_to_have

Demonstrate Capital Equipment Sales Cycle Knowledge for Commercial Roles

Hillenbrand sells complex, high-value capital equipment with sales cycles that can span months or years. If applying for Sales Coordinator, Sales Engineer, or Sales Manager positions, your resume should reflect experience with consultative selling, technical specification development, customer application analysis, and long-cycle pipeline management. Include deal sizes, territory scope, and vertical market expertise — particularly in plastics, food and pharmaceutical processing, or recycling — to show you understand the consultative, relationship-driven nature of industrial equipment sales.

ATS System: Workday

Hillenbrand uses Workday (hosted on the wd3.myworkdayjobs.com instance) to manage its global recruitment across all brands and locations. Workday parses uploaded resumes into structured data fields, enables recruiter keyword searching across the candidate pool, and tracks applicants through configurable hiring stages from application to offer. The system also allows candidates to set job alerts and manage multiple applications from a single profile.

Upload your resume as a .docx or standard .pdf file — Workday's parser handles these formats most reliably, avoiding the extraction errors common with image-heavy PDFs or unconventional file types
After Workday auto-populates your profile from your resume, manually verify every field — job titles with special characters, German umlauts in company names, and technical acronyms are frequently garbled during parsing
Use exact keywords and phrases from the Hillenbrand job posting in your resume and profile fields, as recruiters use Workday's search functionality to filter candidates by specific terms like 'plastics extrusion,' 'SAP MM,' or 'Six Sigma Black Belt'
Complete all optional profile sections including skills tags, certifications, and language proficiencies — these fields are searchable and can surface your profile for roles you haven't directly applied to
Set up job alerts within your Workday candidate profile for Hillenbrand so you're notified immediately when new roles matching your criteria are posted — with only 18 active positions at any given time, timing matters significantly
Avoid using headers, footers, or text boxes for critical information like your name or contact details — Workday's parser frequently skips content in these document areas
If applying to multiple Hillenbrand roles across different brands or locations, tailor your resume for each submission rather than using a single generic version — Workday stores each application separately and recruiters review them independently

Complete Workday Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Hillenbrand's interview process reflects the pragmatic, results-oriented culture of a global industrial manufacturer.

Expect a process that is thorough but not unnecessarily drawn out — typically two to four rounds completed over three to six weeks, depending on role seniority and location. The company values substance over polish, meaning interviewers are more interested in your depth of technical knowledge and real-world problem-solving examples than in rehearsed behavioral answers. For engineering and operations roles, prepare for scenario-based technical questions grounded in real manufacturing challenges: How would you troubleshoot a throughput bottleneck on an extrusion line? Walk through how you've implemented a lean improvement from identification through sustainment. For roles like Tool Maker or CAM Programmer, you may encounter practical assessments or be asked to walk through your technical process in detail. Interviewers at Hillenbrand's manufacturing sites often include the hiring manager, a peer from the technical team, and potentially a quality or operations leader — reflecting the cross-functional collaboration the company emphasizes. For commercial roles such as Sales Engineer or Sales Manager, expect to discuss specific customer engagements, how you've navigated complex technical sales involving multiple stakeholders, and your approach to territory or account development in industrial markets. You may be asked to present a mock solution or value proposition for a capital equipment scenario relevant to plastics processing or material handling. Culture fit at Hillenbrand centers on alignment with the Hillenbrand Operating Model mindset — continuous improvement, accountability, and a bias toward data-driven decision making. Interviewers listen for candidates who speak in terms of measurable outcomes, show intellectual curiosity about industrial processes, and demonstrate humility about learning new systems. Questions about how you've adapted to new operating environments, collaborated across geographies, or driven change through influence (not just authority) are common. Showing genuine interest in the specific Hillenbrand brand you'd be joining — asking informed questions about Coperion's compounding technology or Milacron's injection molding platforms — signals the kind of engaged, curious professional Hillenbrand tends to hire.

What Hillenbrand Looks For

Deep domain expertise in industrial processing equipment — whether in engineering, manufacturing operations, sales, or service — with the ability to speak fluently about the specific technologies relevant to the role (extrusion, compounding, injection molding, material handling)
Continuous improvement mindset demonstrated through concrete examples of applying lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar methodologies to deliver measurable operational results
Global collaboration capability — comfort working across cultures, time zones, and Hillenbrand's multi-brand organizational structure, with language skills being a significant differentiator for European and Asian roles
Commercial acumen for understanding how technical solutions translate into customer value, whether you're an engineer designing equipment or a sales professional positioning it in competitive markets
Adaptability and resilience in a company that has undergone significant transformation through acquisitions and portfolio reshaping — they want people who thrive in evolving environments rather than rigid structures
Safety-first and quality-focused mentality consistent with the standards expected in precision industrial manufacturing, demonstrated through certifications, compliance experience, or specific safety leadership examples
Ownership and accountability — Hillenbrand's relatively flat structure means individual contributors and managers alike are expected to take initiative, make decisions, and own outcomes without excessive oversight
Technical software proficiency relevant to the role, whether that's SAP ERP modules for supply chain positions, CAD/CAM tools for engineering roles, or CRM and analytics platforms for commercial positions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Hillenbrand hiring process typically take from application to offer?

Based on patterns reported by candidates in the industrial machinery sector and companies of Hillenbrand's size, the process commonly takes three to six weeks from initial application to offer, though this varies by role complexity and location. Engineering and operations roles at manufacturing sites may move faster due to operational urgency, while senior leadership or specialized international positions (such as the SAP MM/WM Specialist role based in Germany) may take longer due to multi-stakeholder approvals. After submitting your Workday application, you can generally expect an initial response within one to three weeks if your qualifications match. Monitor your Workday candidate portal for status updates, as Hillenbrand's recruiters update application stages within the system.

Should I submit a cover letter when applying to Hillenbrand through Workday?

Workday provides an option to upload additional documents, and submitting a targeted cover letter can differentiate you — especially when Hillenbrand has a small number of active openings and competition for each role may be intense. Focus your cover letter on explaining why you're specifically drawn to the Hillenbrand brand associated with the role (Coperion, Milacron, etc.), how your experience maps to their specific technology or market, and what you'd bring to their continuous improvement culture. Keep it to one page. For highly technical roles like CAM Programmer or Tool Maker where your resume speaks clearly to your qualifications, a cover letter is less critical. For commercial and leadership roles like Senior Operations Manager or Sales Manager, a well-crafted letter that demonstrates your understanding of the industrial equipment market can make a meaningful impression.

What resume format works best with Hillenbrand's Workday ATS?

Use a clean, single-column, reverse-chronological format saved as a .docx or standard text-based .pdf file. Workday's parser handles these formats most reliably. Avoid graphics, multi-column layouts, tables for organizing experience, and any critical content placed in headers or footers — Workday frequently fails to extract information from these areas. Use standard section headings like 'Professional Experience,' 'Education,' 'Technical Skills,' and 'Certifications.' For Hillenbrand specifically, consider including a brief Professional Summary (three to four lines) that immediately establishes your relevance to industrial machinery, processing equipment, or the specific technical domain of the role. Two pages is the ideal length for experienced professionals.

Does Hillenbrand offer remote work options?

Hillenbrand's workforce spans manufacturing plants, engineering centers, and corporate offices globally, and remote work availability varies significantly by role type and location. Shop floor roles such as Tool Maker, hands-on engineering positions, and plant-based operations management roles naturally require on-site presence at manufacturing facilities. Corporate, IT, sales, and some engineering roles may offer hybrid or remote flexibility, though this is typically addressed on a role-by-role basis and often depends on the specific Hillenbrand brand and site culture. Check the individual job posting in Workday for location requirements, and ask about flexibility during the recruiter phone screen if the posting doesn't specify. Candidates for field-based Sales Engineer or Sales Manager roles should expect significant customer travel regardless of home office arrangements.

What level of experience do I need to apply to Hillenbrand?

Hillenbrand's active postings span a wide experience range — from roles like Sales Coordinator or quality coordinator that may be accessible to early-career professionals with two to five years of relevant experience, to senior positions like Senior Operations Manager that typically require ten-plus years in manufacturing leadership. The common thread is domain relevance: even for entry-to-mid-level roles, Hillenbrand typically seeks candidates with at least some background in industrial manufacturing, processing equipment, or closely related technical fields. If you're transitioning from a different industry, emphasize transferable skills like lean manufacturing, ERP system expertise, or capital equipment sales experience. Hillenbrand's relatively small volume of open positions (approximately 18 at a time) suggests they hire selectively, so ensure your experience genuinely aligns with the posted requirements before applying.

How important are certifications like Six Sigma or SAP credentials for Hillenbrand roles?

Certifications carry meaningful weight at Hillenbrand because of the company's emphasis on operational excellence through the Hillenbrand Operating Model. Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is commonly listed as preferred or required for engineering, quality, and operations roles. SAP certifications or demonstrated module expertise (particularly MM, WM, PP, and SD) are highly relevant for roles like the SAP MM/WM Specialist position. For trade and skilled manufacturing roles like Tool Maker, journeyman credentials and specific machining certifications are directly relevant. While certifications alone won't get you hired, they serve as strong signals of structured problem-solving capability and technical depth. List them in a dedicated section on your resume and reference them in your Workday profile's skills tags to enhance searchability.

How should I prepare for a technical interview at Hillenbrand?

Technical interviews at Hillenbrand typically focus on practical, scenario-based problem solving rather than abstract theoretical questions. Research the specific equipment and processes relevant to your target brand — for Coperion, understand twin-screw extrusion and material handling systems; for Milacron, review injection molding technology and hot runner systems. Prepare to walk through past projects in detail, including the problem you faced, the analytical approach you took, the solution you implemented, and the measured results. For engineering roles, be ready to discuss design tradeoffs, failure analysis methodology, and your experience with relevant CAD/CAM or simulation tools. For operations roles, prepare examples of how you've used lean tools (value stream mapping, 5S, SMED, TPM) to drive measurable improvements. Having a working knowledge of your target brand's products — even from publicly available brochures and case studies on Hillenbrand's website — demonstrates the curiosity and preparation they value.

Can I apply to multiple Hillenbrand positions simultaneously through Workday?

Yes, Workday allows you to apply to multiple positions from a single candidate profile, and doing so is a reasonable strategy given Hillenbrand's multi-brand structure. However, apply selectively and tailor your resume for each submission rather than mass-applying to every open role. Hillenbrand recruiters can see all your active applications, and applying indiscriminately to unrelated roles (e.g., both a CAM Programmer and a Sales Coordinator position) may signal unfocused career goals. If you're genuinely qualified for two or three related roles — say, both a Sales Engineer and Sales Manager position in the same product area — applying to each with a tailored resume is perfectly appropriate. Include a brief note in each application explaining your interest in the specific role.

What should I know about Hillenbrand's company culture before interviewing?

Hillenbrand's culture is heavily influenced by the Hillenbrand Operating Model (HOM), a company-wide continuous improvement framework that shapes how teams approach everything from daily manufacturing operations to strategic planning. Familiarize yourself with this concept before interviewing — while the specific details of HOM are internal, its principles align closely with lean enterprise thinking, standardized work, and data-driven decision making. The culture tends to be pragmatic and results-oriented rather than flashy, reflecting the industrial manufacturing environment. Employees across Glassdoor and industry forums commonly note a collaborative atmosphere with accessible leadership, though the pace of change from ongoing acquisitions and integration work means adaptability is essential. During interviews, demonstrate that you're energized by — not resistant to — operational rigor and continuous improvement expectations. Asking thoughtful questions about how HOM applies in the specific team you'd join is an excellent way to show cultural alignment.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 126 open positions at Hillenbrand

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Sources

Hillenbrand Careers — Current Job Openings — Hillenbrand / Workday
Hillenbrand — About Us and Company Overview — Hillenbrand, Inc.
Hillenbrand Reviews and Interview Experiences — Glassdoor
Workday ATS — Candidate Application Best Practices — Workday, Inc.