Lead Plastics Engineer – Injection Molding & Optimization

us conec; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks PTO

Health, dental & vision plans

401(k) with employer match

Relocation assistance to Hickory, NC

Job summary

US Conec is seeking a Plastics Engineer to lead development, optimization, and continuous improvement of plastic injection molding processes and tooling for new and existing products.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Tooling, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to improve process capability, product quality, efficiency, and cost while driving innovation across plastics manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience with plastic injection molding in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of polymer materials, resin behavior, mold design, and processing principles.
• Understanding of DOE, SPC, Measurement R&R, and root cause analysis.
• Experience troubleshooting molding processes and driving continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication abilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and optimize plastic injection molding processes for new and existing products.
• Lead process development activities, including mold trials, process qualification, and production readiness efforts.
• Analyze molding performance and implement improvements to enhance quality, reduce scrap, improve cycle times, and increase overall equipment effectiveness.
• Partner with Tooling, Product Development, and Manufacturing teams on mold design reviews, tooling modifications, and new product launches.
• Evaluate and recommend plastic materials and resins based on product performance, manufacturability, and cost objectives.
• Utilize scientific molding principles, statistical methods, and data analysis to establish robust and repeatable molding processes.
• Troubleshoot molding defects and process issues, including flash, short shots, sink marks, warpage, dimensional variation, and cosmetic concerns.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, including setup sheets, work instructions, validation reports, and process standards.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, productivity, quality, and cost reduction.
• Collaborate with Quality and Manufacturing teams to investigate customer complaints, nonconformances, and returned product, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Provide technical leadership, training, and mentorship to Process Technicians, Mold Technicians, and production personnel.
• Support capital projects involving molding equipment, auxiliary systems, automation, and process monitoring technologies.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or related engineering discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

3D CAD software

CMMs

CT scanning

Vision inspection systems

Job description

US Conec is seeking a Plastics Engineer to lead development, optimization, and continuous improvement of plastic injection molding processes and tooling for new and existing products.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Tooling, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to improve process capability, product quality, efficiency, and cost while driving innovation across plastics manufacturing operations.