Plastics Applications Development Engineer

Teknor Apex Company•Leominster, MA

About The Position

The Application Development Engineer plays a hands-on role in turning technical ideas into commercial results. This role partners closely with R&D, Sales, Marketing, and customers to support product development, improve application performance, and help move new opportunities from concept to implementation. Success in this role comes from combining technical problem-solving with strong collaboration, clear communication, and disciplined execution. The Application Development Engineer contributes directly to business growth by supporting customer needs, improving processes, generating technical insights, and helping teams make informed decisions. This role also helps strengthen customer confidence through responsive technical support, quality investigation, and practical solutions that deliver measurable impact.

Requirements

Foundational knowledge of injection molding and extrusion technologies, including the ability to troubleshoot processing issues and understand market needs within the plastics industry.
Familiarity with polymer systems, compounds, and physical testing methods used to evaluate material and product performance.
Working knowledge of tool design, part design, and design simulation tools, including computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA).
Basic understanding of quality systems, testing standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to share technical information clearly across teams and customer groups.
Demonstrated collaboration and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to Teknor Apex values including Respect, Integrity, Safety, Partnership, Innovation, Sustainability, and Accountability.
Self-motivated learner with the ability to build technical capability through hands-on experience with extrusion and molding processes.
Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage work independently, stay focused, and deliver results on schedule.
Creative and analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to apply technical knowledge to complex challenges and translate insights into practical, market-driven solutions.

Responsibilities

Partner with senior Application Development and R&D teams to identify new business opportunities, evaluate applications, and support technical development programs.
Translate customer requirements into product specifications and support technical approvals to advance commercial opportunities.
Support process, application, and product improvements that strengthen operational efficiency and business growth.
Plan and execute application development and customer support initiatives that improve product performance and customer outcomes.
Provide technical expertise, processing data, and application insights to support Marketing, Sales, and customer initiatives.
Investigate customer complaints, collaborate across functions to identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions that improve customer satisfaction and product performance.
Travel to customer sites, manufacturing locations, and technical meetings to support application development, troubleshooting, testing, and customer engagement.
Coordinate lab and quality control testing activities and support the development of improved testing methods and technical capabilities.
Deliver technical training for customers and commercial teams to strengthen processing knowledge and application performance.
Maintain accurate and timely technical documentation, including reports, project plans, training materials, and progress updates, to preserve and share critical knowledge globally.
Utilize business and project management systems, including M3 ERP, Uncountable lab management, and Salesforce tools, to manage projects and maintain visibility into work activities.
Build strong internal and external technical relationships to support collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.
Maintain safe work practices, identify potential hazards, and contribute to a culture of accountability and continuous safety improvement.