Principal Polymer Processing Engineer, Injection Molding

CONMED Corporation • Largo, FL

1d • $138,700 - $176,900 • Remote

About The Position

The Principal Polymer Processing Engineer is a recognized technical expert who advances injection molding capabilities, polymer-processing technologies, and manufacturing performance across CONMED. The role provides technical leadership for molded-part design and manufacturability; injection-mold conceptualization, manufacture, and performance testing; molding-cell equipment selection and testing; process optimization and qualification; and sustaining support throughout the production life cycle for plastic parts used in medical devices and components.

Working across Engineering, Operations, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, and external partners, the engineer leads complex technical initiatives from concept through commercialization and ongoing production. The position applies advanced engineering judgment to resolve critical processing challenges, establish technical standards, reduce manufacturing risk, and improve product quality, cost, capacity, and reliability. It is an individual-contributor role that leads through technical expertise, influence, and collaboration rather than direct people management. The role reports to the Senior Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. It is located in Largo, Florida, and is identified as remote. Employer-based sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible engineering experience involving injection molding, polymer processing, plastics manufacturing, tooling, or closely related manufacturing technologies.
• At least 2 years applying technical expertise to troubleshoot nonconforming injection-molded parts and determine potential causes across part geometry, raw material and handling, molding process, mold steel dimensions or wear, mold design, molding-cell selection or performance, inspection methods and equipment, conveying, packaging, storage, or transit.
• At least 2 years leading complex technical projects and influencing decisions across multiple functions.
• Experience developing or reviewing engineering protocols, validation documents, technical reports, specifications, risk assessments, and process documentation.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and technical-documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or doctorate in Polymer Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience in a regulated medical-device, pharmaceutical, life-sciences, automotive, aerospace, or similarly controlled manufacturing environment.
• Experience with injection molding of medical-device components or other high-precision, high-reliability products.
• Working knowledge of FDA quality-system requirements, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, good manufacturing practices, and process-validation expectations.
• Expertise in specialized processes such as insert molding, overmolding, micro-molding, multi-shot molding, silicone molding, high-temperature materials, or biocompatible polymers.
• Experience with mold-flow simulation and analysis tools.
• Experience with automation, in-mold sensing, process-monitoring systems, machine connectivity, or advanced manufacturing controls.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving certification.
• Experience supporting manufacturing transfers, supplier development, capacity expansion, or global operations.
• Experience working with toolmakers, resin suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and contract manufacturers.
• Experience with mold-design conceptualization, mold manufacturing, mold functional-performance testing, and predictive and preventive mold-maintenance programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in injection-molding process development, optimization, validation, and troubleshooting; and in mold-design conceptualization, performance testing, forming-steel compliance, grooming, and troubleshooting.
• Advanced knowledge of thermoplastic materials, polymer behavior, resin handling and drying, rheology, shrinkage, warpage, degradation, and material-process interactions.
• Demonstrated experience applying scientific molding, design of experiments, statistical analysis, process-capability methods, and structured root-cause analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to independently define problems, evaluate technical alternatives, and deliver sustainable solutions to highly complex engineering challenges.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical advisor on custom molders, molding-cell equipment, process optimization and troubleshooting, mold design and manufacture, tooling engineering and maintenance, metrology and MSA, and quality-engineering capabilities and audits.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in injection-molded part design for manufacturability, process optimization and troubleshooting, mold-design optimization, and tooling engineering.
• Lead development, optimization, qualification, and validation of complex injection molding processes, equipment, molds, and supporting technologies.
• Establish processing strategies based on polymer science, material characteristics, part and mold design, equipment capability, and product requirements.
• Apply scientific molding and structured experimentation to define processing windows and create repeatable, capable, controlled processes.
• Provide technical direction for challenging molding applications, including tight tolerances, complex geometries, engineered and high-performance resins, multi-material components, insert molding, and overmolding.
• Evaluate emerging polymer-processing technologies and recommend investments that support innovation, capability, capacity, quality, and business needs.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, engineering practices, design guidelines, specifications, and process-development methods.
• Translate complex technical information into recommendations for engineering, operations, and business leadership.
• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Supply Chain on new-product development and product transfers.
• Provide design-for-manufacturability guidance on polymer selection, molded-part geometry, tooling, tolerances, gating, cooling, shrinkage, warpage, and process capability.
• Lead or oversee mold-flow analysis, tool-design reviews, mold manufacturing and testing, process characterization, equipment selection and testing, and manufacturing-readiness assessments.
• Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation plans.
• Lead transitions of injection-molded products and processes from development through validation, commercialization, and sustained production.
• Define critical process parameters and support suitable inspection, monitoring, and control strategies.
• Balance technical decisions against product performance, patient and user needs, compliance, manufacturability, cost, capacity, and business continuity.
• Provide technical leadership for mold bench assembly and functional assessment; mold installation qualification; molding-cell equipment assessment and testing; mold dry cycling and first-out-of-tool and functional testing; process characterization and optimization; forming-steel compliance assessment and applicable grooming; and mold operational and performance qualification.
• Develop or approve technical protocols, reports, engineering studies, acceptance criteria, statistical analyses, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure polymer-processing work meets applicable quality-system requirements, engineering standards, regulatory expectations, and internal procedures.
• Support risk-management work, including process and design FMEAs, control plans, process-risk assessments, and technical investigations.
• Partner with Quality Engineering to establish process controls and sustain process capability.
• Provide technical support for internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and customer inquiries as needed.
• Lead resolution of complex or recurring molding-process and tooling issues affecting safety, quality, delivery, capacity, cost, or customer service.
• Use structured problem-solving and advanced data analysis to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Improve cycle time, scrap, yield, process capability, automation, tooling, material utilization, and overall equipment and operational effectiveness.
• Assess molding equipment, auxiliary systems, tooling, and processes for capability gaps, obsolescence risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Support capital-equipment selection, technical justification, supplier evaluation, installation, qualification, and production implementation.
• Provide technical leadership for design and material changes, product and process transfers, supplier transitions, capacity expansion, and manufacturing-network initiatives.
• Develop business cases and recommendations supported by technical evidence, risk assessment, financial impact, and implementation requirements.
• Consult with engineering teams, operations leaders, project teams, and senior leadership; lead cross-functional initiatives; and influence decisions with significant technical complexity, business risk, or organizational impact.
• Build partnerships with equipment manufacturers, toolmakers, resin suppliers, contract manufacturers, consultants, and other external technical resources.
• Represent manufacturing and polymer-processing considerations in product, technology, and business-planning discussions; facilitate technical reviews and document decisions, actions, risks, and accountabilities.
• Communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences at all organizational levels.
• Mentor and guide engineers, technicians, molders, and other manufacturing professionals; share specialized knowledge, develop training, and establish repeatable engineering methods.
• Review and guide other engineers' technical work without serving as their direct manager.
• Promote disciplined experimentation, fact-based decisions, continuous improvement, and strong engineering practices; maintain current technical knowledge; and contribute to CONMED's long-term polymer-processing and manufacturing-technology roadmap.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance and life insurance, with costs fully paid by CONMED.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with dollar-for-dollar contribution matching, with the potential for up to 7% per pay period.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with discounted stock purchases.
• Tuition assistance for undergraduate and graduate-level courses.
• Employee Referral Program incentives for eligible referrals.

What This Job Offers

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