Research Engineer (Polymer Processing)

Job Description

Job Description

INGENIA POLYMERS is a rapidly growing international manufacturer operating in the Petrochemicals and Plastics Industries. We seek a Research Scientist/Engineer to lead and support the development of new products and support of existing products for Ingenia.

SUMMARY: Ingenia’s Research and Development group in Houston, TX is looking for a chemical engineer, polymers engineer, or polymer scientist, with a strong background in polymer processing and polymer science. Ingenia’s markets are in the areas of polyolefin flexible packaging, industrial films, agricultural films, pressure pipe, rotomoulding, structural and advanced materials; we are expanding into functionalized polymers and thermoplastic elastomers, and we need some focus in these two particular areas. The Research Scientist/Engineer will help drive further growth in Ingenia’s business through successful development and commercialization of new products. Development work involves design of experiments, raw materials evaluations, process and equipment evaluations, formulation, scale-up support from laboratory trials to production, plant support, and technical service in support of commercialization. The Research/Scientist Engineer will also support Technical Service Requests from customers on the same products. This is an exciting opportunity to learn, develop, and contribute to a dynamic, technology driven, entrepreneurial environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the development of new products and manufacturing processes, with the aim of commercialization, for Ingenia’s proprietary products group. This includes development of thermoplastic elastomer formulations and functionalized polymer formulations, and related processing and analytical methods. This involves:

o Project definition in cooperation with Product Market Manager

o Literature and patent review

o Supplier contacts and evaluation of new materials, processes and equipment

o Design of experiments, formulation and evaluation of new products in Ingenia’s applications lab

o Project management of multiple development and service projects

o Coordinating with other team members including marketing, sales, production, and support personnel to achieve project objectives.

o Development of safety and materials data, and marketing materials in support of product launch

o Plant scale-up support

o Trial support at customer’s facilities

• Responsible for addressing Technical Service Requests from the field. This includes:

o Speaking with customers or the technical service team to understand the application requirements or to help resolve customer or product issues

o Planning and executing lab work to support customer requests

o Reverse engineering of competitive samples

o Preparing and communicating results to the technical service group or directly to customers.

• Learn and practice Safety

• Evaluate and make recommendations on raw material selection

• Study principles, methods, and approaches to bring innovative solutions to the product and process development effort

• Develop technical solutions through hands-on experimentation.

• Solve customer problems, support process improvement, and take responsibility for new product/process development projects

• Represent Ingenia Technology as required to outside customers, suppliers, at conferences, and exhibitions

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or Polymers Science & Engineering preferred; with emphasis on thermoplastic elastomers (including TPV), formulation and process technology (both compounding and conversion technologies) desired.

• Knowledge of twin-screw extrusion compounding, and polymer conversion (blown and cast film, rotomoulding, blow molding, injection molding, profile and sheet extrusion, etc) processes.

• Knowledge of rheology, polymer processing, structure-property relations, reactive extrusion, grafting, interfacial science, polymer composites, and polymer blends.

• Mechanical aptitude preferred

• Project and time management – ability to manage long and short term projects with minimal supervision.

• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a cross-functional team with peers, managers, and technicians.

• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills. Ability to communicate professionally, both internally and to customers and suppliers. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

• Proficient in data analysis, DOE and statistical methods.

• Self-driven and results oriented

• 0-5 years of industrial polymer research or engineering experience preferred.

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