POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Materials Engineer is a highly visible and strategic role within the PDI R&D organization. This position requires an individual with a passion for organization, development, and cross functional collaboration. The Sr. Engineer will lead projects/initiatives and work with cross functional business teams to solve for technical challenges. The role will create and drive complex development plans for both product and process developments. Finally, collaborating with key partners in procurement, marketing, and sales team to build a robust competitive understanding and identify unmet needs in current portfolio. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

• Demonstrate technical expertise in the materials engineering such as textiles, polymers, nonwovens areas important to PDI organization.
• Provide product and project leadership to ensure successful development and transition to commercialization and launch of products that meet project success criteria and business financial goals carrying out assignments in a timely, diligent, and professional manner.
• Partner with procurement, Ops, marketing to develop and execute plans to gather market data and drive product innovation in support of strategic business plans and goals.
• Employ innovative approaches based on available scientific knowledge to projects large to moderate in scope across the developmental timeline from concept to commercialization.
• Document knowledge and report research and development work for each project in areas of responsibility
• Analyze data and provide insights and recommendations based on the data.
• Support the protection of technologies, processes, materials, and products through appropriate use of patents and trade secrets. 
• Lead and support product scale up and line trials and documents trial reports
• Develop and validates test methods to evaluate performance of products and prototypes
• Drives strong collaboration with Quality and Regulatory to ensure compliance
• Writes SOPs and specifications.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

• Meet key project targets & milestones for product development projects and portfolio.
• Deliver on commercialization and optimization of finished product.
• Delivery of reports and analysis in a timely manner
• Demonstrates core behaviors and ownership. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Candidates must possess a minimum of a bachelors in a relevant scientific discipline plus a minimum of 5 years of experience and/or a Master’s degree with 3 years of experience
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a product development role within nonwovens or wipes industry and understanding of the nonwoven processes and raw materials (consumer, healthcare, food safety, other)
• Demonstrated ability to translate customer insights into feasible solutions including concept and prototype development and validation with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated success in delivering against business-critical objectives
• Experience working cross-functionally with business unit marketing and sales teams
• Consumer/Regulated Package Goods experience an advantage
• A demonstrated ability to work independently or as part of a team to complete projects within required timeframes

• Computer literate (Outlook / Word / Excel)
• Strong communication skills (verbal / written)
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment with varied work

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering discipline. Polymer science, Material Science, Paper science, Engineering preferred.
• Master’s or PhD degree is an advantage

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:

• Strong scientific principles (statistical analysis, Design of Experiments, Problem solving, root cause analysis)
• Understanding of product development, manufacturing processes, working in a team and nonwovens fibers/chemistry

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• 3+ years of experience in a product development role or related technical function (technical textiles, fibers, etc.) with deep understanding of the manufacturing processes and supply chain

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• MS Office, statistical analysis, strong communication skills
• Previous experience of Wipes / NW / Packaging / formulation required / advantageous
• Proven track record of developing and launching new products
• Proven track record of developing people and cross-functional teams

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Primarily laboratory environment with some manufacturing at both internal and supplier sites.