Product Development Engineer
About The Position
The Product Development Engineer reports to the VP of Technology and is responsible for qualifying films and resins from extrusion through converting and end use. The role supports product development, R&D, manufacturing, suppliers, and customers through laboratory testing, production and supplier trials, process troubleshooting, formulation work, and commercialization of new products. The position includes technical support for manufacturing trials and new item setup; interpretation of product test and quality data; development of data sheets for new formulations; coordination of supplier trials; and leadership of development projects focused on product improvement or new markets. The engineer also supports customer R&D activities and helps manage projects, trial schedules, production formulations, and formulation information.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, Polymer Science Engineering, or equivalent.
- Advanced technical knowledge.
- Ability to interpret physical-property and composition data of polymers.
- Ability to troubleshoot plastic-processing equipment and related defects in thin-film production.
- Ability to interact and communicate successfully with others.
- Self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple projects without significant oversight.
- Coachable and open to feedback.
- Ability to optimize workflow processes and systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and good interpersonal skills.
- Comfort working in a dynamic environment where projects may shift during the year.
Responsibilities
- Support the product development team in completing customer trial orders.
- Assist R&D with laboratory requests, review trial results, and help manage customer projects.
- Support external trials at suppliers and customers, including travel as needed.
- Support manufacturing in completing new product development activities.
- Recommend formula changes based on quality-data analysis.
- Define production blends for new specifications.
- Lead troubleshooting of process and formulation issues and define root causes.
- Coordinate trials for alternate suppliers for existing products.
- Lead execution of production formulations for new specifications.
- Complete R&D laboratory testing, including DSC, heat seal/hot-tack, OTR, and microscopy; serve as the main contact for competitive analysis and communicate test results.
- Interpret test results and develop data sheets for new product formulations, ensuring the accuracy of FDA contact status under 21 CFR 176.
- Develop knowledge of key materials, especially additives and colors, and analyze price and performance to assess total cost.
- Support manufacturing trials for product development and process teams.
- Validate production formulas during new item setup; ensure additives such as slip and white scale appropriately with thickness; and schedule and sequence production trials.
- Provide on-site support as needed.
- Lead one or two development projects focused on product improvements or new-market development involving new materials.
- Organize and conduct supplier trials to support design of experiments, analysis, and R&D cost management.
- Provide the R&D team with monthly information about completed jobs, identify formulations by market and end use, and manage obsolete formulations.
- Manage small- to medium-sized customer R&D activities as experience and results dictate.
- Support the lead development engineer on customer visits, trials, and project reviews.
