Applications Engineer - Biomaterials

Avantor•Carpinteria, CA

54d•$85,000 - $141,600•Onsite

About The Position

An Applications Engineer in NuSil supporting the Advanced Technologies group is expected to have broad knowledge of silicone materials and familiarity with the processing & application of these materials in the Aerospace and Electronics industries. Recognized as a subject matter expert in some facet of silicone product technology, a qualified candidate will have a track record of leading application development projects forward to successful completion, while effectively engaging stakeholders across multiple functions (e.g., Product Technology, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, etc.). This individual will be expected to drive multiple projects forward simultaneously, employing effective program management skills and data-driven decision making capabilities. Depending on the project, the individual will need to command a working knowledge of all aspects of product design, development and commercialization including: product formulation, functional material characterization, application-relevant analytical technologies, manufacturing process development, and quality assurance & relevant regulatory considerations. Some aspects of the role will require hands-on work in a laboratory and manufacturing environment. Avantor is looking for an Applications Engineer to support the Biomaterials (BM) group. This person is expected to have broad knowledge of silicone materials and familiarity with the processing & application of these materials in the healthcare, medical, and drug delivery industries. They are recognized as a subject matter expert in some facet of silicone product technology, and a qualified candidate will have a track record of leading application development projects forward to successful completion, while effectively engaging stakeholders across multiple functions (e.g., Sales, Marketing, New Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, etc.). This position is located at our Carpinteria, CA office with travel up to 25% domestically and globally to tradeshows or conferences. This person will have the opportunity to drive multiple projects forward simultaneously, employing effective project management skills and data-driven decision-making capabilities.

Requirements

B.S. in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science or related field
3+ years of silicone industry experience.
1+ years of direct technical customer support/service.
Experience with fabrication & test methods employed in silicone component manufacture.
Ability to work in a highly matrixed environment.
Deep technical knowledge of the chemistry and materials science of silicone products (i.e., polymers, resins, reinforced elastomers, adhesives, primers, inks, foams, greases).
Deep understanding of HCR & LSR elastomers, gels, dispersions and adhesives for medical implants & devices and healthcare application.
Deep understanding of silicone structure-property relationships as it relates to silicone- drug interactions and how to modify drug elution rates.
Working knowledge of silicone material manufacturing processes.
Develop a practical understanding of the NuSil product portfolio and their use in customer applications.
Demonstrated understanding of scientific research / concepts and new product development methods and utilization of relevant concepts / methodologies at different stages of the development process.
Rigorous scientific approach to product design and problem solving.
Fundamental understanding and working knowledge of statistically-based quality principles and familiarity with Lean / Six Sigma methodologies.
Extensive knowledge of customer manufacturing & fabrication processes (e.g., injection molding, extrusion, dip coating, spray coating, sheeting, device assembly, etc.) and in-depth understanding of silicone-material application.
Business Acumen: solid understanding of markets and competition, value propositions, business cases based on materials costing.
Organization & Project management skills.
Proactive self-starter able to work in a dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science or related field.
8+ years of silicone industry experience.
Direct experience with the design, development, manufacture, testing and regulatory requirements associated with silicone product implementation & qualification.
4+ years of direct technical customer support/service experience and/or application development experience.

Responsibilities

Depending on the project, command a working knowledge of all aspects of product design, development and commercialization including product formulation, functional material characterization, application-relevant analytical technologies, manufacturing process development, and quality assurance & relevant regulatory considerations.
Perform hands-on work in a laboratory and manufacturing environment.
Work collaboratively with the NuSil Commercial team to support new business opportunities and transition them to new R&D product development projects where applicable.
Work collaboratively with the NuSil Marketing team to gather application data to support new product introductions and promotion of existing products.
Being the applications SME for new product development opportunities encompassing BM applications:
Work with customers to capture critical product attributes and with the commercial team to define strategy for effective sampling of prototype material meeting customer requirements.
Work hands-on in the lab to make new materials, perform advanced testing and drive projects forward.
Assist commercial team in transitioning new customer opportunities to new product development projects within the R&D department.
Support the new product development teams during opportunity progression and assist customer qualification activities, improving opportunity probability of success & ultimately driving NuSil growth.
Generate product profiles for newly launched products as needed.
Perform application relevant and/or advanced testing to support new customer applications, process development and/or troubleshoot customer issues.
Travel to customers to support where applicable.
Provide on-site quality/trouble shooting technical support to quality engineers
Technical content creation for customer support/visits, trade shows, marketing campaigns, etc.
Interface with NuSil Product Technology, Analytical Technology, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs and Operations to ensure commercialization objectives are clearly understood and cross-functional / departmental coordination is effective.
Acquire and maintain working knowledge of commercial account management and transaction processes including the use of Salesforce as an essential tool.
Foster a safe work environment and comply with all Standard Operating Procedures and ethical conduct requirements