Senior Development Engineer

Freudenberg Performance Materials; Ebbw Vale; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

Diversity & Inclusion

Performance Related Bonus

Workwear

Personal Development

Job summary

Freudenberg Performance Materials LP in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior Development Engineer to lead site R&D projects, developing new materials and optimizing manufacturing processes through lab and production-scale trials.

You’ll coordinate business continuity and dual sourcing of key raw materials, partnering with internal teams, customers and suppliers to drive site improvements and introduce new equipment. A strong lab background and ISO13485 familiarity are preferred.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Polymer Science.
• Minimum 5 years of industrial experience in technical product development and project management.
• Prince 2 or Agile project management certification.
• Lean Systems Green Belt or equivalent Lean/OPEX certification.
• Understanding of HSE and chemical safety regulation (COSHH, COMAH, REACH).
• Understanding of ISO 13485 Medical Device Standard and Regulatory Requirements.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Operational Excellence (OPEX) tools.
• Experience of working in a laboratory environment.
• Good IT knowledge including Microsoft Office.
• Deep technical knowledge of PU foam raw materials and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver R&D projects, overseeing design and development of new materials and optimization of manufacturing processes through lab and production-scale trials.
• Organize and manage business continuity projects, including dual sourcing of key raw materials, coordinating with internal stakeholders, customers and suppliers.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to drive site improvement initiatives and introduction of new equipment.
• Prepare and approve documentation supporting design control and validation activities, ensuring ISO standards and internal stage-gate processes compliance.
• Provide technical leadership and project management support to team members and sites.

Skills

Project management

Lean/OPEX

HSE knowledge

PU foam materials

MS Office

Education

Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Polymer Science

5+ years industrial product development experience

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is part of the Freudenberg Group and a leading global supplier of innovative technical textiles for a broad range of markets: From apparel, automotive, building materials, civil engineering, energy, filter media, healthcare and to building interiors and more. Join our team and shape the future of innovation with us! Discover our world at www.freudenberg-pm.com.

Some of your Benefits

• Company Pension: Save for retirement with the company's help.
• Diversity & Inclusion: We focus on providing an inclusive environment and recognize our diversity contributes to our success.
• Performance Related Bonus: When you have an impact, you can reap the rewards.
• Workwear: For your safety and well-being we provide the proper clothing and equipment.
• Personal Development: We offer a variety of trainings to ensure you can develop in your career.

Ebbw Vale

On-Site

Freudenberg Performance Materials LP (United Kingdom)

You will support our team as Senior Development Engineer, to be responsible for leading site projects utilising project management techniques to develop and improve products and processes.

Senior Development Engineer

Responsibilities

• You will lead and deliver R&D projects, overseeing the design and development of new materials and the optimisation of manufacturing processes through laboratory and production-scale trials.
• You will organise and manage business continuity projects, including the dual sourcing of key raw materials, by coordinating activities with internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers.
• You will partner with cross-functional teams to drive site improvement initiatives, leading and supporting projects focused on process enhancement, operational efficiency, and the introduction of new equipment.
• You will prepare and approval documentation supporting design control and validation activities, ensuring compliance with ISO 13485, customer requirements, and internal stage-gate processes (e.g., CIC).
• You will provide technical leadership and project management support to team members, departments, and sites, ensuring activities align with the FPM strategy and are supported by appropriate project documentation.
• You will act as a mentor to new team members, including placement students, providing guidance and support on project delivery and professional development.
• You will identify and champion new opportunities through technological awareness (e.g. literature and patent reviews) and market insights gained from trade shows, conferences, supplier engagements, and customer visits, translating these into innovative product and process development opportunities.
• You will ensure all R&D documentation, including work instructions and forms, is regularly reviewed, maintained, and improved in compliance with internal procedures, ISO standards, and industry best practices.
• You will support the planning, prioritisation, and scheduling of laboratory and manufacturing trials across all site R&D projects.
• You will manage the site Quentic COSHH system, ensuring chemical records, risk assessments, and associated documentation are maintained, compliant, and up to date, while providing support to system users across the site.
• You will complete routine project administration activities for assigned projects, including product costing and the creation and maintenance of product data within SAP and QPDC.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Polymer Science
• A minimum of 5 years of industrial experience of technical product development and project management
• Project Management certification e.g. Prince 2, Agile
• Lean Systems Green Belt or equivalent Lean/OPEX certification
• Have an understanding of HSE and chemical safety regulation (COSHH, COMAH, REACH)
• Have an understanding of project management methods (Prince 2, Agile)
• Have an understanding of ISO 13485 Medical Device Standard and Regulatory Requirements
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Operational Excellence (OPEX) tools
• Have experience of working in a laboratory environment
• You will have a good IT knowledge including Microsoft Office
• You will have/ develop a deep technical knowledge of PU foam raw materials and manufacturing processes

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.