Product Development Specialist

CpK Interior Products Inc.; Belleville; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturer of automotive products in Ontario is seeking an R&D professional to develop and optimize rolled goods for automotive interiors. This role involves collaboration with various teams, focusing on tailoring formulations for performance while ensuring quality standards are met. Candidates should have a Masters or PhD and extensive experience in flexible materials. A competitive compensation package including healthcare and additional benefits is offered, alongside opportunities for travel within Canada and the U.S.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care benefits

Tuition assistance

Vehicle purchase and lease discounts

Qualifications

• 5+ years developing flexible materials, especially textiles, PVC, and TPO rolls.
• Experience in leading the PPAP process for automotive applications.
• Strong knowledge of how additives affect properties like durability and abrasion resistance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate rolled goods formulations.
• Lead the integration of new formulations into manufacturing processes.
• Prepare technical reports detailing formulations and test results.

Skills

Process engineering

Additives influence properties

Coatings analysis tools

Excellent communication skills

Collaboration in cross-functional teams

Education

Masters/PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Microscopy

Spectroscopy

Job description

At CpK, precision runs much deeper than the detailed surface of our cast skin products. Providing expertise at every phase of our world‑class manufacturing process, and with the deepest bench of manufacturing and product experts in the industry, we deliver award winning craftsmanship synchronized with your vehicle goals. The CpK advantage starts with our proprietary compounding of performance materials, where process innovation blends with plastics engineering to deliver unsurpassed efficiency, reduced scrap and optimum performance. Shape the future with our proficiency in mould tuning and design plus always receive the latest technology in graining, material haptics and colour. We provide expertise in design for manufacturing, materials processing, tooling, moulding, assembly, sequencing, delivery, logistics, or the orchestration of any or all of these. Our fine‑tuned capabilities allow infinite combinations to meet the unique specifications of Original Equipment Manufacturers and Tier One suppliers, seamlessly and successfully. We are an industry‑leader in the manufacture of best‑in‑class interior systems for North American OEM's. If quality and professional excellence are important to you, this is an opportunity for you to apply your expertise in the journey towards becoming World Class.

The mission of the organization is to be the standard by which all interior products companies define themselves globally admired for our people, partnerships, quality and innovation. Our employees are energized to deliver results for our customers. Our team always does whatever is necessary to meet your objectives. It is our mission that leads us to achieve heightened levels of performance in process, accuracy and customer service.

We are looking for an individual to add value to our Research and Development Team. This successful candidate will be responsible for developing and optimizing rolled goods, ensuring they meet stringent performance and quality standards for automotive interiors. They will collaborate closely with R&D, quality, and program management teams to integrate the new formulations into manufacturing processes effectively. Their expertise in process engineering i.e. extrusion coating and top‑coatings will be essential in tailoring formulations to achieve desired properties and in troubleshooting any issues that arise during application.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Work with Head of R&D to develop and validate the rolled goods formulations to customize properties such as haptics, hand feel, abrasion resistance, durability, and aging resistance
• Lead the rolled goods development in both laboratory and external production settings, ensuring seamless integration into manufacturing processes.
• Lead the testing of rolled goods as per customer specifications for automotive interior applications
• Lead the implementation of top‑coat line for rolled goods to enhance product quality and surface finish. Troubleshoot and resolve coating application and texturing issues in collaboration with production and quality teams.
• Key point of contact for PPAP process for rolled goods project ensuring the development of Control Plans, DV/PV testing, Process Flow Diagram, DFEMA etc.,
• Prepare technical reports and presentations detailing formulations, test results, failure analyses, and recommendations for improvements
• Collaborate with engineering and production teams in other CpK facilities for product and process validation
• Provide technical inputs to capital projects in the area of material development, compounding and procurement of new equipment. Coordinating with vendors on quotes, purchasing and installation of the identified equipment.
• Utilize in‑house testing capabilities to conduct material testing as required in the above projects and as per material specifications required by customers

Please note that this position will require extensive travel at times, up to 25%, within Canada and the United States.

Qualifications and Experience

• Masters/PhD in Chemical engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering (or a related field), or equivalent extensive experience in polymer compounds formulations and extrusion coating/rolled goods application
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in developing flexible materials, particularly textiles and foam backed PVC and TPO rolls.
• Experience in leading PPAP process for automotive clients
• Strong expertise how different additives influence properties like abrasion resistance, hand feel, durability, and aging
• Demonstrated experience in using coatings analysis tools, such as microscopy, spectroscopy, or other diagnostic techniques, to identify failure modes and improve formulations
• Hands‑on experience with industrial scale methods for coating application and texturing
• Experience with mechanical and chemical testing of coatings, including flexibility, adhesion, abrasion resistance, and environmental resistance
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross‑functional teams

CpK Interior Products Inc. is proud to extend to its employees a compensation and benefits package that is designed to retain their talent and to motivate and reward job performance. Our present compensation program provides for competitive; market based salaries, and annual vacation and holiday time off. We make available a comprehensive health care benefits plan which, depending upon the employee’s role, includes medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage. We also offer a disability absence plan, group and optional life insurance program, savings plan, tuition assistance, and vehicle purchase and lease discounts for certain employees, and for their family and friends.

Note: Some of the benefits listed above may not apply to contract and or temporary employees.

CpK Interior Products Inc. is committed to providing accommodation for people with accessibility needs due to disabilities in all aspects of the hiring process. If you request an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs due to disability.

We thank all interested applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted