SME - Paint Technology

Job Summary

The SME / Manager is responsible for leading formulation development, color management, troubleshooting, and optimization of masterbatches used in paints, inks, pigments, plastics, and related coating applications. This role is critical for organizations seeking to ensure high-quality, consistent, and performance-optimized masterbatches in paints, inks, and coatings, while supporting innovation and continuous improvement across product lines working closely with production, quality, supplier chain, suppliers, and New product development teams

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and optimize masterbatch formulations for paints, inks, pigments, coatings, and plastic applications.
• Lead color matching, pigment dispersion trials, color stability studies, and preparation of color matching reports.
• Review technical specifications, chemical formulations, process parameters, and new material approvals.
• Troubleshoot product and process issues such as color variation, paint peeling, adhesion failure, ink smearing, surface defects, chemical contamination, gloss variation, viscosity issues, and batch-to-batch inconsistency.
• Support product performance validation including adhesion, cross-hatch, abrasion, scratch, gloss, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, color migration, dispersion quality, thermal stability, and mechanical property impact.
• Use analytical and quality control instruments such as spectrophotometers, viscometers, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, rheology instruments, and related laboratory equipment.
• Ensure compliance with ISO, IMS, RoHS, REACH, SVHC, CPSIA, EN71-3, SDS/MSDS, GHS, customer RSL, environmental, safety, and customer-specific requirements.
• Evaluate and qualify suppliers by reviewing COA, TDS, SDS, RoHS declarations, supplier declarations, incoming acceptance criteria, and corrective action plans.
• Support NPI, production scale-up, process trials, production planning, shift operations, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical support to Production, Quality, R&D, Sales, Customer Service, suppliers, and customers for complaint resolution and product development alignment.
• Conduct root cause analysis using 8D, Fishbone Analysis, 5 Why, FMEA, control plans, and other quality tools.
• Prepare and maintain SOPs, work instructions, chemical management procedures, material specifications, technical reports, and compliance documentation.
• Train and mentor quality, production, paint shop, supplier, and technical teams on safety, SOPs, testing methods, documentation, and technical best practices.
• Identify product safety risks, chemical handling risks, environmental impacts, and develop control measures for hazardous chemicals and emergency response.
• Drive improvements in material performance, paint rejection reduction, chemical consumption reduction, first-pass yield, cost reduction, and best industry practices.

Technical Knowledge Required

• Plastic materials and moulding processes: PP, ABS, HIPS, PVC, PC, HDPE, LDPE, Nylon, TPR, injection moulding, blow moulding, and roto moulding.
• Masterbatch systems: color masterbatch, additive masterbatch, functional masterbatch, UV masterbatch, and flame-retardant masterbatch.
• Paint and ink systems: water-based paints, solvent-based paints, UV coatings, pad printing inks, screen printing inks, spray coatings, varnishes, and thinners.
• Pigment chemistry, polymer chemistry, colorants, dispersants, coating technology, application methods, surface treatment, adhesion, durability, and chemical compatibility.
• Chemical compliance requirements including REACH, RoHS, toy safety regulations, SDS/MSDS, GHS classification, restricted substances, VOC, phthalates, and heavy metals.
• SAP / ERP systems for production tracking, material management, documentation, and traceability.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical, problem-solving (8D), root cause analysis, and decision-making skills.
• Expertise in color formulation, color matching, pigment dispersion, application trials, and performance validation.
• Knowledge of quality management systems, ISO documentation, industrial safety standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to manage suppliers, audits, customer complaints, technical reviews, and cross-functional coordination.
• Knowledge in FMEA, SPC, Control Plan, DOE, MSA, PFD, MSA
• Good communication, presentation, reporting, technical training, mentoring, and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in laboratory, production, quality, R&D, customer-facing, and supplier-facing environments.
• Innovation mindset with the ability to identify new material solutions, process improvements, cost optimization opportunities, and emerging technologies in masterbatch, paint, ink, coating, and polymer applications.
• Capability to drive experimentation, benchmarking, value engineering, product enhancement, and continuous improvement projects using creative problem-solving and data-driven decision-making.

Experience

4-5 years in masterbatch development, pigment testing, color matching, paints, inks, coatings, production support, and quality systems

Qualification

B.E. / B. Tech / M. Tech in Paint Technology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related field.