Product Developer

Avient•Greenville, NC

About The Position

At Avient, the Product Developer turns customer and market needs into robust, manufacturable products, taking them from ideation and feasibility through development, scale-up, validation, and handover to the business. The role may involve developing product concepts with customers, running production trials, solving manufacturing challenges, validating performance, and preparing commercial launches. It works directly with operators, engineers, scientists, suppliers, customers, and business stakeholders across a global organization. The position focuses on new and improved Dyneema® Composite Fabric developments, from concept through commercial launch. It includes planning and executing trials on production equipment, scaling products from lab or pilot stage to commercial production, defining product and process specifications, evaluating product performance, supporting complex production troubleshooting, and contributing to innovation and patent activities. The role is based in Greenville, North Carolina.

Requirements

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related technical field.
3–7 years of experience in product development, manufacturing, engineering, process development, technical consulting, or applied R&D.
A demonstrated record of taking ownership and delivering meaningful results.
Strong analytical, conceptual, and practical problem-solving ability.
Clear communication and effective stakeholder management skills.
Personal drive, initiative, and ambition to make a visible impact.
An ownership mindset, including identifying needs, taking action, communicating proactively, and following through.
Curiosity and learning agility, with the ability to build expertise quickly in unfamiliar areas.
Structured problem-solving, sound judgment, and comfort making progress with incomplete information.
Resilience when experiments, trials, or projects do not go as planned.
A hands-on, pragmatic approach focused on making things work, not stopping at theory.
Confidence working with customers and colleagues at different levels, functions, and locations.
Ability to balance technical rigor with speed, practicality, and business priorities.
A collaborative style and willingness to challenge assumptions constructively.

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, scale-up, product development, or process improvement.
Experience planning or executing trials on production equipment.
Experience working directly with customers or translating application needs into technical requirements.
Knowledge of composites, polymers, textiles, or advanced materials.
Familiarity with statistics, experimental design, or data analysis.
Experience leading cross-functional projects across multiple sites or functions.

Responsibilities

Own new and improved Dyneema® Composite Fabric developments from concept through commercial launch.
Translate customer and market needs into product requirements and practical development plans.
Plan, execute, and interpret trials on production equipment, working hands-on with operators and engineers.
Scale products from lab or pilot stage to robust, reproducible commercial production.
Define product and process specifications and support handover to manufacturing and the running business.
Develop test plans and evaluate whether products meet application and customer performance requirements.
Engage directly with customers, support product evaluations, and translate feedback into improvements.
Coordinate cross-functional work involving manufacturing, technology development, quality, sourcing, and commercial teams.
Support complex production troubleshooting beyond routine operational support.
Identify innovation and intellectual property opportunities and contribute to patent activities.
Work safely and follow applicable SHE and company requirements, especially during plant trials.
Propose and execute product development projects, including required investments.
Engage suppliers for critical raw materials and new equipment, coordinating with sourcing and technology teams.
Initiate and support new patent work.