Engineer

Job Summary

This position is responsible for supporting in the research & development, characterization, and scale-up of materials and processes supporting new and existing products, with primary emphasis on extruded attenuation materials. The Engineer applies engineering, chemistry and/or materials science knowledge to assist in formulating polymer-based systems, evaluate functional fillers and additives, understand structure-property relationships, and supports the translation of laboratory findings into robust, manufacturable extrusion processes. The position assists the Principal Chemist in technical experimentation, material selection, test-method development, supplier qualification, and manufacturing transfer while working cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain. This position is expected to be onsite during second shift with some limited remote work accepted (~10%).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Research & Development Support

• Assists research and development activities for extruded attenuation materials from early feasibility through design transfer and commercialization.
• Assists in the development and optimization of polymer-based formulations containing heavy attenuation material loading, fillers, additives, stabilizers, processing aids, and other constituents required to achieve targeted attenuation, mechanical, dimensional, and processing performance.
• Executes development trials on production equipment using statistically sound methods, including design of experiments (DOE), to understand key formulation and process variables.

Quality & Regulatory Requirements

• Characterizes raw materials, compounds, extrudates, and finished components using established lab practices including, but not limited to, chemical, physical, thermal, mechanical, dimensional, and attenuation test methods.
• Establishes material specifications, acceptance criteria, sampling plans, and test methods that correlate critical material attributes to product performance and manufacturability.
• Partners with manufacturing teams to document process windows, troubleshoot defects, improve consistency, and scale formulations from laboratory or supplier trials to production.
• Assists the internal sourcing team to assess technical capability, obtain data, coordinate trials, and resolve material-related issues with material suppliers.
• Uses Change Control process to execute product and material changes while ensuring resulting products can be adequately manufactured, tested, and released.
• Develops, implements, and documents test plans and results, ensuring testing is technically justified and aligned with applicable quality and regulatory requirements.

Process Improvement Expectations

• Collaborates with cross functional teams to execute project timelines, ensuring that project deliverables are met and any findings, recommendations, or risks are communicated clearly to key stakeholders.
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve material performance, process capability, test efficiency, product cost, and organizational technical knowledge.
• Demonstrates ability to engage and collaborate with global manufacturing sites and external technical partners to build vendor relationships.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.
• Assist with product development.
• Collaborate with other production associates and workplace team members.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or a closely related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 1-5 years of relevant experience in materials development, polymer formulation, compounding, extrusion, or a related research and development environment required.
• Hands-on experience with thermoplastic polymers and filled or highly loaded composite systems strongly preferred.
• Experience developing or characterizing extruded materials, including formulation-to-process scale-up and troubleshooting preferred.
• Experience with analytical and materials characterization techniques such as tensile testing, hardness, density, microscopy/spectroscopy, dimensional measurement, or comparable methods preferred.
• Experience with DOE, statistical analysis, robust quality management systems, risk management, and regulated product development preferred.
• Experience in medical devices, healthcare, radiation attenuation, shielding, or other highly regulated material applications is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications

Working Knowledge

• Working knowledge of polymer chemistry/materials science, including resin selection, fillers, additives, interfaces, dispersion, thermal behavior, degradation, and structure-property relationships.
• Working knowledge of extrusion and compounding fundamentals, including screw/process variables, melt temperature, pressure, residence time, cooling, dimensional control, and common extrusion defects.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, procedures, policies, and safety requirements, including safe handling of laboratory chemicals, powders, and functional fillers as applicable.
• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with statistical software such as Minitab is preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to convert product-performance requirements into measurable material attributes, process parameters, specifications, and verification methods.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze data, identify technically meaningful trends, and document conclusions in clear engineering reports.
• Ability to solve practical problems and work effectively through changing technical priorities and ambiguous development challenges.
• Ability to communicate professionally with people at all levels of the organization, suppliers, laboratories, and other external technical contacts.
• Successful team player who demonstrates strong interpersonal, collaboration, and technical communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while seeking guidance and peer review when appropriate.