Lead Materials Process Engineer

Aquent; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a Lead Materials Process Engineer to bridge materials innovation with manufacturing readiness. This on-site role with a hybrid schedule collaborates with global teams to scale new materials and processes into production.

You will work with cross-functional groups across Materials, Product Creation, Quality, and Supply Chain, applying SPC, DOE, and process validation to deliver repeatable, scalable solutions. Occasional evening meetings and limited travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 3+ years of experience in materials development, polymer engineering, process engineering, or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience with polymer materials and material characterization.
• Experience developing, testing, optimizing, or scaling materials and manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven problem solving.
• Experience with SPC, DOE, process capability analysis, or similar techniques.
• Ability to work effectively in manufacturing environments and collaborate with factory or supplier partners.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, optimization, and validation of advanced material manufacturing processes from concept to commercialization.
• Partner with manufacturing teams and suppliers to improve process capability, scalability, and readiness.
• Analyze material performance data, lab results, and metrics to identify improvements.
• Develop and implement process controls, operating windows, validation plans, and standards.
• Apply SPC, DOE, and process capability analysis to reduce variation and improve quality.
• Lead root-cause investigations related to material performance and manufacturing challenges.
• Translate findings into DFM guidelines and scalable production requirements.
• Support factory trials, validation activities, and commercialization with global partners.
• Create process specs, control plans, and manufacturing best practices.
• Collaborate across Materials, Product Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to drive decisions.

Skills

Polymer materials

Materials science

Process engineering

Statistical analysis

Data-driven problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Manufacturing environments

Education

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Job description

Lead Materials Process Engineer

About the Role
We are seeking a Lead Materials Process Engineer to support the development, commercialization, and manufacturing readiness of advanced material technologies. In this role, you will serve as a technical bridge between materials innovation, process engineering, and global manufacturing teams to ensure new materials and processes can be scaled successfully into production.
You will partner with cross-functional teams including Materials, Product Development, Quality, Innovation, and Manufacturing Engineering, as well as external factory and supplier partners. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who can translate laboratory insights and manufacturing data into scalable processes, technical standards, and continuous improvements.
This is an on-site role with a hybrid schedule. Occasional evening meetings may be required to collaborate with global teams, and limited international travel may be needed.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development, optimization, and validation of advanced material manufacturing processes from concept through commercialization


• Partner with manufacturing teams and suppliers to improve process capability, scalability, and production readiness


• Analyze material performance data, laboratory testing results, and manufacturing metrics to identify improvement opportunities


• Develop and implement process controls, operating windows, validation plans, and engineering standards


• Apply statistical methods including Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and process capability analysis to reduce variation and improve quality


• Lead root cause investigations related to material performance, process variation, and manufacturing challenges


• Translate technical findings into Design for Manufacturing (DFM) guidelines and scalable production requirements


• Support factory trials, process validation activities, and commercialization efforts with global manufacturing partners


• Create technical documentation including process specifications, control plans, and manufacturing best practices


• Collaborate across Materials, Product Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to drive technical decisions

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline


• 3+ years of experience in materials development, polymer engineering, process engineering, or manufacturing engineering


• Experience working with polymer materials and material characterization


• Experience developing, testing, optimizing, or scaling materials and manufacturing processes


• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting technical data and using data-driven approaches to solve problems


• Experience with process improvement methodologies such as SPC, DOE, process capability analysis, or similar techniques


• Ability to work effectively in manufacturing environments and collaborate with factory or supplier partners


• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams


• Self-starter who can independently manage projects, prioritize work, and drive results

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with polyurethane (PU) materials, elastomers, foams, coatings, adhesives, or similar polymer systems


• Laboratory testing experience related to material performance, reliability, or validation


• Experience supporting product commercialization, manufacturing scale-up, or new product introduction (NPI)


• Experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles


• Experience working with global manufacturing partners or suppliers


• Familiarity with JMP, Minitab, or comparable statistical analysis software


• Experience in apparel, footwear, sporting goods, consumer products, or other materials-driven industries


• CNC, tooling, or manufacturing process certifications

What Success Looks Like

• Materials and processes are validated, repeatable, and ready for commercial production


• Manufacturing partners have clear technical requirements and process controls


• Data-driven improvements reduce variation and increase product reliability


• Cross-functional teams are aligned on technical decisions and commercialization milestones


• Innovative materials successfully transition from development into scalable manufacturing

Work Environment

• On-site position with a hybrid schedule


• Collaboration with global teams across multiple time zones


• Limited international travel may be required


• Opportunity to work at the intersection of materials science, engineering, and manufacturing innovation

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