Materials Development Engineer

Position Description:

Own material development from idea through commercialization. Research new polymers, fibers, substrates, films and evaluate prototypes; work with suppliers, customers and internal colleagues. Participate in manufacturing trials. Develop new products and process as well as gather and evaluate competitive samples, perform tests, analyze financial and scientific results and working with internal and external staff to reach conclusions and recommendations. May also work on qualifying new, second and cheaper materials.

Primary Responsibilities

• Liaise between New Product Development and internal/external test labs
• Research customer needs, both known and emerging
• Interface with suppliers to obtain sample products, TDS and understand basic processing parameters of materials
• Prepare for and Attend manufacturing trials
• Perform basic cost analysis on experimental products encompassing materials, labor, freight, scrap & overhead
• Post evaluation and summarize lab reports of prototypes; assist on analysis
• Research competitive products
• Work with Product Development Team to Evaluate/analyze competitive samples and products
• Compile engineered sample packets for customer review
• Help coordinate and gather substrates used during lab line run making prototype samples; Cut and label sample test sheets
• Work with R&D Manager and experts to identify new, secondary and cheaper sources of materials, test and qualify each, work with customer to ensure each meets quality and manufacturing specifications
• Assist R&D Manager and CEO as appropriate on additional developmental projects

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science/Engineering required, Master’s Degree desirable
• Three to five years of experience in material manufacturing preferred, ideally in composites comprising of nonwovens, polymers, fibers and/or emulsions or comparable educational or research experience
• Strong understanding of TP films, synthetic non-wovens and cellulose papers is a plus
• Three to five years of experience in material manufacturing preferred, ideally in composites comprising of nonwovens, polymers, fibers emulsions and additives or comparable educational or research experience
• Knowledge of materials; thermoplastic polymers and additives, papers, synthetic non-wovens
• Knowledge of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Products), chemical engineering, plastics helpful
• Proficient with online research, data tabulation and manipulation
• Comfortable in small industrial R&D environment
• Team player with ability to work well in groups as well as independently
• Ability to travel to vendor and customer sites to perform tests and explain results