Product Development Scientist

First Quality • Lewistown, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

First Quality is a family-owned company with over 35 years of history, employing over 5,000 team members across the U.S. and Canada. We specialize in producing high-quality personal care and household products. We are seeking a Product Development Scientist for our Lewistown, PA facility. This role is responsible for creating, developing, and implementing new and proprietary designs of absorbent-related product systems based on business, customer, and consumer needs. The position also provides support for existing product systems to ensure competitive performance and value.

Requirements

• Four year technical degree (e.g. Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering) or equivalent; additional business studies preferred.
• 3+ years in R&D inventing, developing and implementing new products.
• Knowledge of and experience with developing product systems for the retail market, preferably hygiene products.
• Knowledge of materials used in retail absorbent products (e.g. pulp, super absorbent polymers, nonwovens).
• Working knowledge of consumer product converting technologies for pulp, paper and nonwoven materials.
• Experience with the process of searching, evaluating and filing patents.
• Experience providing direction for the physical testing of hypotheses, resulting in specific conclusions and recommendations.
• Able to speak, read and write the English language and have strong oral and written communication skills.
• Good analytical skills, with working knowledge of basic statistics.
• Good computer skills in Microsoft Office program.
• Able to travel ~20-30% to US and International for product and process trials.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of the Product Development team, executing projects in a timely, diligent, safe, and professional manner, and contributing to the growth of the team and department.
• Design new products and product improvements to meet business and consumer needs.
• Develop new and improved materials and technologies with suppliers, and ensure all new raw materials obtain proper safety testing and clearance.
• Use basic Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques to develop experimental plans.
• Support existing business product cost improvements through product redesigns.
• Provide technical support to reduce consumer complaints.
• Support corporate proprietary technology by documenting and patenting novel ideas.
• Develop new test methods to better predict and understand product performance in use.
• Work with more senior scientist or manager to help set project objectives.
• Coach and develop indirect reports to enhance team performance towards department objectives.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

What This Job Offers

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