Elastomer Formulation and Compounding Scientist

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Greene, Tweed & Co

Date posted: 2024-10-30
Start date: 2024-12-01
Location: 2075 Detwiler Road, Kulpsville, PA 19443, US
Full/Part time: Full Time

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Job Description

At Greene, Tweed, you'll find the cutting-edge technology, world-class polymer expertise and endless advancement opportunities you'd expect from a multi-national industry leader. You'll find them all in an environment that embraces diversity in people and opinions, moves decision making to the point of impact, and celebrates your success. If you enjoy continuous learning and are excited about working with and creating technological solutions, explore career opportunities with Greene, Tweed. Job Summary:At Greene Tweed Advanced Technology Group, we solve materials problems for the most critical applications where failure is not an option. Our team is seeking a Compounding Expert with a diverse set of expertise to serve in traditional compounding development and lead new product development initiatives. This role will involve identifying, assessing, and developing new scientific concepts and technologies to provide solutions to business or customer challenges. You will manage scientific technical projects, coordinate with other R&D professionals and support personnel, and define approaches to scientific and technical problems, developing hypotheses and formulating research strategies.This position also involves participation in patent applications and providing technical guidance to Technicians, less experienced Scientists, and Engineers in setting up and executing experiments and testing. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams to define and communicate capabilities, evaluate new opportunities, and provide technical solutions to manufacturing challenges. 

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Innovative Research & Development:
    • Apply broad technical capabilities and knowledge to complex R&D problems, pursuing novel ideas aligned with business impact in addition to assigned programs.
    • Conduct research, develop, and deliver R&D programs and objectives based on customer needs, competitive activity, business strategy, and research goals aligned with the marketplace, potentially leading to commercialization of products or improvement of existing products.
    • Lead the group in solving process issues and improving system deficiencies using appropriate techniques. Identify barriers impacting freedom to operate and develop strategies to resolve them.
    • Utilize theoretical and practical knowledge in compounding, molding, and testing to support new technology products and development activities.

 

  • Technical Leadership & Communication:
    • Network with customers (internal and external) and stay aware of future industry directions.
    • Represent Greene Tweed’s technical capability externally at trade shows, industry events, etc., and effectively convey organizational vision and strategies both within and beyond the research team.
    • Provide technical guidance to the team, including setting up and executing experiments and testing. Document all test results, observations, and processes, providing initial summarized reports and ensuring completeness and manufacturability.
    • Maintain and calibrate equipment within relevant areas to ensure accuracy and readiness for use.

 

  • Manufacturing & Process Development:
    • Assist in determining the operations required for fabrication and assembly of products by reviewing part drawings, specifications, and other engineering data (Design for Manufacturing).
    • Perform material testing, such as mechanical testing (tensile, hardness, etc.), rheological, thermal, and electrical properties tests. Prepare test coupons and product demonstrators.
    • Use computer applications for plastics technology and design, simulation, and root cause analysis to address issues like flow, stress buildup, etc., during molding and annealing.
    • Develop sequence of operations, estimate time requirements, and prepare operation sheets for manufacturing processes.

 

Requirements

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Certifications:

  • PhD in Materials Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related is required.
  • 5+ years Industry Experience with a heavy focus on Rubber Compounding is required. Please note, we may consider a Level 1 Scientist with 2+ years Industry experience.
  • Experience as a Technical Lead, successfully evaluating, selecting and recommending materials (and suppliers) for either new product development or product reformulation is required. Experience delivering a new compound, recipe, etc. through successful product commercialization highly preferred.
  • Experience working effectively with a broad cross functional team (development engineering, application engineers, materials test lab, product test lab, product management and project management) in support of product commercialization is required.
  • Understanding of polymer systems, and deep understanding polymer structure property relationship.
  • Experience with DOE and RCA – Six Sigma methodology to develop new compound or troubleshooting a reformulation problem is highly preferred.
  • Experience working with Suppliers and Customers to develop new products.
  • External presence at conferences, technical committees such as API and SAE, track record of publications (patents, journal papers, industry standards) is highly preferred.
  • Strong theoretical and practical working knowledge of material compounding, extrusion (single and/or twin-screw), molding, and associated processes.
  • In-depth knowledge of materials testing processes and equipment (mechanical, chemical aging, thermal, etc.).
  • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of business or market needs by authoring research proposals, setting program objectives and milestones, and driving research focus and strategies.
  • Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to take ownership and accountability for meeting commitments.
  • Experience with operation and troubleshooting of lab equipment, analytical measuring instruments, and familiarity with extrusion screw design, reactive extrusion, and reactive injection molding.
  • Strong communication skills for technical and commercial research and testing results, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
  • Travel: Minimal. 10% at most (2-3 conferences per year).

Salary/Wages

150,000-160,000

Contact Information

Phone: 2674210120
Email: [email protected]

Full Job Description (PDF)