Market Development Engineer - Western Region

Washington Penn; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Penn in the United States is seeking a professional to identify product requirements and drive technology development for polypropylene compounds. You will manage development activities, pursue new business opportunities, and coordinate with product engineers to deliver customer-focused solutions.

The role emphasizes strong plastics expertise, customer relationship skills, and effective project management across remote and regional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science or equivalent with 5–7 years of plastics materials experience.
• Proven ability to develop new business from technical strengths.
• Ability to build and maintain long-term customer relationships.
• Excellent communication, self-starter, organized.
• Proficient with basic word processing and spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Identify product requirements and drive development activities for polypropylene compounds.
• Pursue new business opportunities through customer and market development.
• Collaborate with product development engineers to meet customer needs and provide data to customers.
• Coordinate customer molding trials and present data packages for approvals.
• Promote WPP products and manage customer inquiries and reports.
• Ensure safety and quality documentation compliance.

Skills

Customer relationships

Communication skills

Time management

Basic software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or equivalent

Job description

Summary

This position is responsible for identifying product requirements and driving technology development projects related to business growth of polypropylene compounds. Requirements include strong plastics technology skills and excellent skills in customer relationships, business development, project management, teamwork, organization, and communication.

Summary

This position is responsible for identifying product requirements and driving technology development projects related to business growth of polypropylene compounds. Requirements include strong plastics technology skills and excellent skills in customer relationships, business development, project management, teamwork, organization, and communication.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing development activities associated with polyolefin compounded materials.
• Pursues new business opportunities through diligent customer and market development efforts:
  • Identifies strategic markets and customers;
  • Determines material requirements and specifications for targeted applications;
  • Collaborates with WPP product development engineers to develop material solutions to meet customer needs;
  • Interprets sample results and provides data sheets and other material physical property information to customers;
  • Coordinates and attends customer molding trials as necessary, providing feedback to WPP product development regarding direction of future work;
  • Presents a formalized data package of developed material(s) for customer approval(s).
• Interfaces with customers and OEMs to achieve and document WPP product approvals.
• Effectively promotes WPP products and organizational capabilities.
• Submits call reports and monthly activity summaries concerning customer-related activities as requested by manager.
• Provides timely response to customer inquiries and complaints to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Performs other duties and assignments as directed by manager.
• Performs all duties safely and in compliance with documentation outlined in the Safety, Health & Environmental and defined quality management systems.
  

Recommended Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in engineering, science, or equivalent, and/or 5-7 years of experience with custom plastic materials.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage technical strength to develop new business.
• Ability to build and maintain strong, long term customer relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, self-starter, sense of urgency, personable, and well organized.
• Skilled in the use of basic computer software, including word-processing and spreadsheets.
• Self-sufficient in terms of time management and support.

Working Conditions

• Location – Remote with preference in Western Region - Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, etc
• Environment – Commercial and/or home office as appropriate.
• Travel – Frequent travel, generally over 50% and can include international travel.