Polymer Materials Engineer

We have a great opportunity for a Polymer Materials Engineer to join our Fibers & Composites Team at our global headquarters in Cincinnati, OH.  You will work hands-on in a fibers and composites processing and testing lab setting.  You will collaborate with our scientist, technicians, sales, and marketing staff to turn novel product concepts into industry-relevant composite data.  These processes and capabilities will be conducted on state-of-the-art equipment designed to simulate composites production and testing.  You will quickly master many equipment and process capabilities for sizing fibers, compounding thermoplastics, and injection molding test samples.  We are looking for candidates that have previous industrial experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting thermoplastic extruders, compounders, and injection molders. Not only will you serve an important role in our innovation process, but you will also effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, the details of observations that you make to the rest of the team and external customers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Correlate material properties to optimized processing conditions for thermoplastic compounding and injection molding

• Equipment troubleshooting, maintenance, and calibrations

• Coordinate with equipment suppliers and raw material providers to keep equipment running smoothly and projects on schedule

• Provide training to the team of engineers and technicians operating the equipment

• Operate industry-standard composites processing and testing equipment

• Prepare sample preparation and testing plans to evaluate composites performance, including material processability and characterization

• Support any scale-up efforts to go from lab scale sizing line to a collaboration partner or customer pilot/production line capability for new sizing formulations, as demand requirements increase

• Prepare and complete characterization of new materials (primarily thermoplastics) using a variety of equipment and testing capabilities

• Input formulation and test data into our R&D systems and processes (document, computer programs, etc.)

Other

• Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates

• Approximately less than 10% travel

• Be able to stand for long periods of time and/or work an extended schedule from time to time

• Be able, on occasion, to lift heavy items (e.g. as much as 50 lbs. to waist level)

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (provided) - including safety shoes at all times

Critical Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in fiber-filled polymer extrusion and injection processing. Industrial or laboratory setting with hands-on experience is required

• Intimate knowledge of thermoplastic injection processing including, speeds, pressures, shot size, barrel temperatures, water bath designs, appropriate feeder selection, etc. and their relationships to materials properties such as viscosity, bulk density of fiber, fiber weight percentage, resin melt temperatures, melt flow rates, and quality control measurements of outputs

• Scientific understanding between polymer degradation and polymer rheology as it relates to optimized part processing for fiber reinforced composites

• Operation and interpretation of polymer characterization techniques (TGA, DSC, DMA, FTIR, etc.)

• Mechanical aptitude to set up and run a lab scale fiber sizing line for customer projects

• Ability to draw conclusions based on scientist’s formulas and operator’s results and provide regular project status updates to all invested parties

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Comfortable participating in a technical discussion with teammates, senior managers, and presenting your results or findings in front of a larger technical audience or directly with customers

• Ability to drive change through instruction and coaching

• Excellent analytical, problem solving and organizational skills

• High levels of self-motivation, initiative, and interpersonal skills

Education and Experience

• Bachelors of Science Degree in Polymer Processing, Polymer Science or Polymer Engineering or similar is required

• At least 3 - 5 years of experience in a polymer processing laboratory or manufacturing environment

Note: The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the job. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

About Michelman

Michelman is proud of the values-focused work environment that we have crafted. We pride ourselves in our focus on our values of integrity, respect, success, collaboration, curiosity, and giving. With our dedication to your technical and professional growth in addition to our rigorous onboarding experience, we guarantee that you will find yourself challenged in new ways. We offer an excellent salary, incentive and benefits package in a dynamic, empowered team environment.

No phone calls please. Michelman does not hire individuals who use tobacco products. All candidates will receive a drug test prior to beginning employment which will include a test for tobacco products.

For more information about Michelman, please visit https://www.michelman.com/.

It is Michelman, Inc. policy to seek and employ qualified persons in all jobs in a manner which will ensure equal employment opportunity as well as administer personnel actions in a manner as to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michelman is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans