Advanced R&D (Engnr/Chemist/Specialist)

Avient Corporation; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Avient Corporation seeks an experienced R&D Engineer in its Advanced Composites Group in Englewood, CO to advance polymer composites for energy, infrastructure, and transportation markets. You will conduct research and develop materials and processes, and share results with teams.

Required: BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science, or Aerospace; MS/PhD preferred; 2–4 years in polymer composites; CAD tools (SolidWorks); and strong analytical, communication, and project skills.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science, or Aerospace engineering.
• MS/PhD in composites or related field preferred.
• 2–4 years in manufacturing or development of polymer composites.

Responsibilities

• Interface with business and technology leaders to develop custom solutions.
• Contribute to product platform development through experimental design and testing.
• Collaborate on IP exploration and patent-related documentation.
• Work with process teams to develop test methods and quality controls.
• Summarize strategies and data in reports for management communication.

Skills

polymer composites

data analysis

project management

SolidWorks

MS Office

Education

BS in engineering

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced R&D Engineer with strong fundamentals in polymer composites interested in advancing their career within Avient’s Advanced Composites Group. The R&D Engineer is responsible for the research and development of polymer composites that create value for our customers in new and existing markets, including emerging applications in energy, infrastructure, and transportation. Successful candidates will be creative and impactful within a team environment.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Actively interface with business and technology leaders to develop custom solutions and / or processes adhering to customer specifications, quality requirements, and operational goals and standards.
• Contribute to product platform development through the application of statistical experimental design, product testing, and data analysis.
• Participate in product development with industry marketing and application development to deliver state-of-the‑art solutions that align with Avient innovation strategy.
• Perform literature and patent searches to guide experimentation and actively contribute to advancing Avient intellectual property through patent filing and documentation of trade secrets.
• Partner with process engineering and operations teams to develop test methods and establish quality controls for new materials / processes as well as drive key projects improving product portfolio profitability.
• Summarize experimental strategies and data analysis in written reports and presentations for communication with peers, customers, and various levels of management.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• B.S in relevant engineering fields (Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science, Aerospace)
• MS/Ph.D. (preferred) in composite/structural materials, polymers, fracture‑mechanics, materials processing.

Additional Qualifications And Skills

• 2-4 years of experience in manufacturing and processing polymer composites such as LFT, UD Tapes, GMT, compression molding, injection molding, pre‑pregs, RTM, pultrusion etc.
• Versed in material characterization using physical testing such as tensile, flexure, and shear.
• Familiar with rheology testing and material characterization using thermal analysis like DSC, DMA, TGA.
• Proficient in understanding engineering drawings and familiarity with CAD tools such as SolidWorks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated project management capability.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Motivated/self‑starter with a passion to succeed.

Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non‑discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.

About Us

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non‑discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, [e-mail] .