Material Development Engineer: Absorbent Hygiene

First Quality; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Bonus opportunities

Medical, dental and vision

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Job summary

First Quality is seeking an experienced Material Development Engineer for its McElhattan, PA facility to lead material development, ensure material quality, and drive cost innovations across absorbent hygiene products. You will collaborate with process, operations, quality, and product development teams, and work with external partners on trials and specifications.

A strong background in polymers/material science and 5+ years in related roles is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, polymers, materials science or mechanical engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years in project or process engineering experience.
• Minimum of 5 years in industrial experience.
• Minimum of 2-5 years material development/process experience.
• Experience in a lean manufacturing environment preferred.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to develop and organize multiple projects.
• Knowledge of absorbent hygiene raw materials, material interactions within product and converting processes preferred.
• Knowledge of material science and analytical testing procedures.

Responsibilities

• Promotes a safety culture, instilling a safety mindset for all team members.
• Works with Quality to ensure raw material quality and that finished product meets quality standards.
• Defines material needs and creates/refines raw material specifications with suppliers and internal teams.
• Ensures good material processability on converting lines.
• Supports funding for growth activities related to materials for the Absorbent Hygiene business.
• Investigates new materials and technologies with the PD team to improve products.
• Develops deeper material understanding for categories like non-wovens, films, pulp, adhesives, elastics, laminates.
• Develops IP to establish competitive advantage and ensure FTP for performance and cost innovations.
• Plans and executes technical services, trials on commercial and pilot lines.
• Evaluates analytical data and communicates findings to non-technical personnel.
• Organizes Material Development pipeline and raw material qualifications.
• Travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Skills

Project management

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional teamwork

Statistical analysis

Design of Experiments

Problem solving

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering/Polymers/Materials Science or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Minitab

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

First Quality is seeking an experienced Material Development Engineer for its McElhattan, PA facility to lead material development, ensure material quality, and drive cost innovations across absorbent hygiene products. You will collaborate with process, operations, quality, and product development teams, and work with external partners on trials and specifications.

A strong background in polymers/material science and 5+ years in related roles is required.