Plastics Engineer

Senior Plastics Engineer

Augusta, Georgia

In-Office | 5 Days Onsite

What You'll Do:

Relate Search has partnered with a manufacturer in their search for a Senior Plastics Engineer to design and develop plastic components across new product development and value-engineering initiatives. This role is design-focused and will take components through complete design cycles while accounting for materials, tooling, and manufacturing constraints. The engineer will work closely and independently with external suppliers, applying injection-molding, DFM, mold-flow, and materials knowledge to improve manufacturability and quality. This is an opportunity to join a small plastics team with a significant project workload, broad technical ownership, and the ability to bring forward cost-reduction and material-conversion ideas.

Responsibilities:

• Design plastic components through complete design cycles across new product development and value-engineering initiatives.
• Apply injection-molding, tooling, and manufacturing knowledge to ensure designs are manufacturable and to reduce unnecessary supplier design iteration.
• Evaluate plastic materials and alternative materials based on application requirements, performance, formulation changes, and availability.
• Work independently with external suppliers through DFM and mold-flow reviews, guiding technical decisions and challenging recommendations when appropriate.
• Partner with Quality and suppliers during new-tool and new-part evaluations, reviewing processing conditions and resulting quality issues while identifying appropriate cost-reduction opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Approximately 7 years of relevant experience preferred, with demonstrated ability to independently take plastic components through complete design cycles.
• Direct experience designing plastic components; candidates whose backgrounds are primarily CAD support or plastics processing without design ownership are not the target profile.
• Strong injection-molding knowledge is important; experience with thermoforming is helpful, while expertise across every plastics process is not required.
• Working knowledge of DFM, mold flow, tooling and manufacturing constraints, and independent supplier collaboration.
• Strong plastics-material knowledge and the ability to evaluate alternatives; Plastics Engineering education is valued but not required, and Mechanical Engineering backgrounds with relevant professional plastics-design experience are viable.

Perks & Benefits:

• The work is primarily focused on new product development, with additional value-engineering and cost-reduction projects.
• Join a small plastics team with significant project volume and the opportunity to bring forward ideas and influence component design decisions.
• Onsite five days per week in Augusta, Georgia, with management flexibility around normal personal needs and appointments.

About Relate Search:

Relate Search is a Woman, Minority, and LGBTQIA+ owned executive and professional search firm dedicated to connecting top talent with meaningful opportunity. With deep expertise across Supply Chain & Operations, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Accounting & Finance we deliver customized, people-first recruiting solutions that drive lasting impact.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement:

Relate Search is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to building inclusive teams where everyone belongs. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.