Injection & Compression Molding Process Technologist (Fiberglass Composites)

Job Description

Job Description

Injection & Compression Molding Process Technologist (Fiberglass Composites)

Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Compensation: $80,000 – $95,000 (salaried)
Working Pattern: Supports production across split coverage as needed: approximately 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

A day in the role

You walk the floor to the hum of molding presses, confirm the previous run’s data, and set up for a mold change. You dial in temperatures, pressures, clamp force, cure times, and cooling cycles, then verify first-off parts against specs. A new job presents surface imperfections—minutes later, you’ve traced it to a tooling vent issue and material lot variation, corrected parameters, and coached the operator on the updated setup sheet. After lunch, it’s a trial for a new product: you run the validation, document the optimized window, and align Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering on next steps. Before you leave, you review OEE, cycle time, and first-pass yield trends, lock in further adjustments, and hand off clear notes for the late shift.

What you’ll own

• Start up, refine, and troubleshoot injection and compression molding processes after mold changes.
• Set and maintain validated processing windows (temperature, pressure, clamp tonnage, cure times, cooling cycles).
• Rapidly diagnose machine, tooling, material, and process issues to reduce scrap and downtime.
• Eliminate defects such as flash, short shots, warpage, voids, surface blemishes, and incomplete cure.
• Continuously monitor production and adjust to protect quality and throughput.
• Create and maintain setup sheets, standards, and process documentation.
• Execute mold trials, process validations, and support new product introductions.
• Train operators on best practices and established methods.
• Partner with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality to elevate performance.
• Lead continuous improvement to cut cycle times, lift first-pass yield, and raise OEE.
• Uphold safety, quality, and environmental requirements at all times.

What you bring

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Technical training in plastics, composites, or manufacturing preferred.
• 3–5 years working with injection and/or compression molding.
• Demonstrated strength in process optimization and troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and apply engineering drawings, work instructions, and quality specifications.
• Mechanical aptitude and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Clear communicator and reliable team contributor.

Preferred experience

• Processing fiberglass-reinforced thermoset or thermoplastic composites.
• Exposure to Lean, SPC, and Scientific Molding methodologies.
• Hands-on support for new product launches and process improvement initiatives.

Why you’ll value this role

• Competitive salary: $80,000 – $95,000 , based on experience.
• Salaried position with first- and second-shift support coverage.
• Direct impact working with advanced composite molding technologies.
• Stable manufacturing setting with meaningful career growth in a fast-paced environment.