Engineer- Principal Rubber Materials

Trelleborg Sealing Profiles US Inc; Aurora (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Trelleborg Sealing Profiles US Inc in Aurora, OH seeks a Technical Leadership & Material Expert to own rubber formulations, processing interactions, and compound development from concept through pilot trials to full production. You will lead an R&D mixing lab and establish procedures to support innovation and rapid prototyping.

Collaborating with the mixing facility and cross‑functional teams including quality, purchasing, and sales, you will drive continuous improvement, optimize formulations,

Qualifications

• Lead rubber formulation and processing improvements for performance, producibility, and cost.
• Document development work, testing, and decision rationales for traceability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of compound development—from concept through pilot trials and full-scale production.
• Establish, equip, and operate an R&D mixing laboratory with safe lab workflows and testing capabilities.
• Collaborate with mixing facility to align capabilities, scale-up, and production readiness.
• Provide technical training and guidance to mixing personnel and cross-functional teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in formulation, mixing, testing, and production processes using data and root-cause analysis.

Skills

Rubber materials

Formulation development

Process optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical leadership

Job description

Technical Leadership & Material Expertise

• Act as the subject-matter expert on rubber materials, formulations, and processing interactions.
• Analyze how raw materials, mixing parameters, and downstream processes affect compound performance.
• Evaluate the consequences of formulation or process changes and provide clear guidance to stakeholders.
• Support quality, purchasing, and customer-facing teams with technical insight and problem-solving.

Compound Development Ownership

• Lead the full lifecycle of compound development—from initial concept and formulation through pilot trials and full-scale production.
• Maintain accountability for performance, manufacturability, cost, and customer satisfaction at every stage.
• Document development work, testing results, and decision rationales to ensure traceability and continuous improvement.

R&D Mixing Lab Leadership

• Establish, equip, and operate an R&D mixing laboratory to support innovation, testing, and rapid prototyping.
• Develop lab procedures, safety protocols, and testing workflows aligned with production requirements.
• Use the lab to accelerate development cycles, validate new materials, and troubleshoot production issues.

Collaboration with Mixing Facility

• Partner closely with the mixing facility and team to align capabilities, processes, and development needs.
• Ensure smooth scale‑up from lab to production by coordinating trials, optimizing parameters, and validating performance.
• Provide technical training, guidance, and support to mixing personnel as needed.

2. Tasks and Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

Formulation & Recipe Development

• Develop new rubber formulations and compound recipes tailored to performance, processing, and cost requirements.
• Maintain and continuously refine existing formulations to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with evolving material availability and customer needs.

Cost Optimization & VAVE

• Identify and execute material‑based cost‑reduction opportunities without compromising performance.
• Lead Value‑Add/Value‑Engineered (VAVE) initiatives by evaluating alternative raw materials, optimizing formulations, and improving process efficiency.
• Drive technical and cross‑functional projects from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with timelines, deliverables, and business objectives.
• Coordinate with purchasing, quality, production, and customer teams to ensure smooth execution and clear communication.
• Build and develop an R&D laboratory to support formulation work, testing, and rapid prototyping.
• Establish lab workflows, equipment needs, safety practices, and testing capabilities that mirror or support production processes.
• Lead technical discussions, cross‑functional meetings, and project reviews with clarity and authority.
• Facilitate collaboration across departments to ensure alignment on materials, processes, and development priorities.
• Work cross-functionally with Application Engineering and Sales to translate customer needs into innovative material solutions that enable growth.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives across formulation, mixing, testing, and production processes.
• Use data, testing results, and root‑cause analysis to drive improvements in quality, performance, and efficiency.

Technical Communication & Presentations