New Product Development Engineer

Alkegen • Whitmore Lake, MI

1d

About The Position

The R&D New Product Development Engineer develops new materials and processes to support the company’s growth initiatives. The role focuses on materials and processes for cement-bonded, chemically bonded, and phosphate-bonded hard refractories used in the aluminum, power generation, chemical processing, and petroleum industries. The engineer also improves existing materials through innovative use of new or alternate raw materials, evaluates materials and refractory systems in the laboratory, supports failure analysis, and assists with scaling new materials and processes into manufacturing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Chemistry.
• At least 2 years of experience in a related role within a manufacturing company.
• Proven track record in a fast-paced, innovative development environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and virtual meeting environments such as Teams and Zoom.
• Proficiency in laboratory testing methods and equipment.
• Experience working in cross-functional and cross-site teams, as well as independently as an individual contributor.
• Problem-solving background.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Ceramic Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience in hard refractories.
• Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Knowledge of data-driven process control or basic Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Familiarity with data acquisition methods and software.

Responsibilities

• Develop new materials and products in a fast-paced, growth-oriented development environment.
• Collaborate with colleagues across a broad range of technical disciplines.
• Improve existing materials and products.
• Conduct laboratory testing and evaluate raw materials and refractory systems to ensure new products meet or exceed target characteristics.
• Perform failure analysis and serve as a technical resource for material-related failures.
• Establish and maintain development project timelines and provide status updates.
• Provide technical support and assist with scaling new materials and processes into manufacturing.
• Qualify new or alternate raw materials for existing formulations.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives as required.
• Serve as a technical resource to Sales, Engineering, and Operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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