Polymer Processing Engineer

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary

A customer-focused individual responsible for all aspects of polymer processing projects: material selection, equipment selection, CAD design, processing/testing/reporting based on client needs. Excellent at troubleshooting and root cause analysis, maintaining quality compliance, and working cross-functionally. The successful candidate will be a mid-level polymer engineer/scientist with commercial experience, mechanically inclined, has speed-of-business focus, a deep understanding of polymers, strong communication skills, is statistically competent, and is an independent contributor. Customer projects primarily focus on creating and improving products, manufacturing efficiency, cycle times, and defect reduction over many market applications.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads and manages technical projects from initiation through completion, including client consultations, project planning, technical problem-solving, stakeholder coordination, product development schedules, and project documentation. Manages relationships with clients, vendors, and cross-functional teams and represents MPI at technical conferences, presentations, exhibitions, and educational and community outreach activities.

• Leads polymer processing and manufacturing operations utilizing injection molding, extrusion, Brabender mixing, thermoforming, 3D printing, composite manufacturing, and related equipment. Sets up, qualifies, operates, troubleshoots, and optimizes manufacturing processes; evaluates production data and process performance; and provides on-site technical support to clients for extrusion, molding, and related processing operations.

• Manages molds, dies, processing machinery, materials, and other manufacturing resources, including design, procurement, calibration, maintenance, modification, upgrades, and repairs. Provides technical input on mold and die designs, mold-flow analyses, finite element analyses, and thermal analyses and ensures equipment and resources remain operational and compliant.

• Develops, validates, documents, and continuously improves polymer formulations and manufacturing processes to achieve desired material properties, product quality, and manufacturability. Applies data acquisition, process capability analysis, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), simulation, and root cause analysis to identify and implement process improvements.

• Conducts product performance, acceptance, mechanical, thermal, and material property testing and evaluates materials and finished products for compliance with customer, industry, quality, and regulatory requirements. Develops and implements quality-control procedures, analyzes testing results, prepares technical and compliance reports, and ensures adherence to environmental, health, and safety requirements.

• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures, work instructions, technical documentation, engineering records, and manufacturing records. Provides employee and customer training on equipment, manufacturing processes, and quality procedures and maintains knowledge of emerging polymer technologies and manufacturing practices.

• Supports sustainable manufacturing and product development initiatives, including the evaluation and development of materials and processes that promote reuse, recyclability, and composability while balancing product performance, manufacturability, and environmental considerations.

• Performs other duties as assigned.