Adhesive Product Developer - Industrial Trade & Converting

tesa tape • Sparta, MI

16h • Onsite

About The Position

Adhesive Product Developer - Industrial Trade & Converting Location: Sparta, MI – tesa plant Function: Research & Development Are you ready to revolutionize tape with us? At tesa , we're not just colleagues; we're collaborators who thrive on pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Our mission is to create sustainable adhesive solutions that improve the work, products, and lives of our customers - we're passionate about making a difference! tesa is a leading global manufacturer of adhesive solutions for industrial and commercial applications, and we are seeking a skilled Product Developer for our Industrial Trade & Converting (ITC) business. In this role, you will lead the design and development of innovative pressure-sensitive adhesive tape solutions for packaging and masking tapes, cloth tapes, and double-sided tapes for mounting applications—working closely with cross-functional partners to ensure strong product performance, manufacturability, and customer value. How you'll help the formula: Develop adhesive tapes focused on the ITC market, working on both the enhancement of existing products and the expansion of new offerings in close collaboration with product management, process development, sales teams and key customers. Lead and manage innovative product development projects from initial concept to final completion. Create, build, and evaluate prototypes (lab, pilot, and production trials) and communicate findings clearly to key stakeholders—linking performance to customer requirements and application use-cases. Drive material and formulation development (e.g., adhesive systems, backings, primers, release liners) and define test methods relevant to target applications (e.g., unwind, tack, peel, shear, temperature performance, aging, adhesion to typical substrates). Lead co-development projects with selected customers and converting partners, resulting in new products or expanded application fields. Actively participate in tech days, trade fairs, and open house events. Analyze competitive solutions and market trends to shape product strategy and maintain a competitive edge. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science.
• Strong analytical and process-oriented thinking with a systematic approach and high technical aptitude.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams (R&D, Business, Marketing, Sales, Production, Quality, and external partners).
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Develop adhesive tapes focused on the ITC market, working on both the enhancement of existing products and the expansion of new offerings in close collaboration with product management, process development, sales teams and key customers.
• Lead and manage innovative product development projects from initial concept to final completion.
• Create, build, and evaluate prototypes (lab, pilot, and production trials) and communicate findings clearly to key stakeholders—linking performance to customer requirements and application use-cases.
• Drive material and formulation development (e.g., adhesive systems, backings, primers, release liners) and define test methods relevant to target applications (e.g., unwind, tack, peel, shear, temperature performance, aging, adhesion to typical substrates).
• Lead co-development projects with selected customers and converting partners, resulting in new products or expanded application fields.
• Actively participate in tech days, trade fairs, and open house events.
• Analyze competitive solutions and market trends to shape product strategy and maintain a competitive edge.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level