Materials Engineer: Development, Approvals & Testing

Contechs; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Contechs is seeking a technically sharp Materials Engineer to accelerate our accessories program, spanning mold-in-color surfaces, soft trim, and other decorative materials. You will own execution across an active materials engineering program including development, test planning, material approvals, and supplier engagement.

Reporting to the Head of Accessories, you will lead MA execution, DOE compatibility studies, sample preparation, lab coordination, and cross-functional collaboration to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry or equivalent.
• 3+ years in materials engineering or a closely adjacent field.
• Comfortable operating independently and owning a workstream, coordinating suppliers and labs.
• Comfortable in start-up environments and willing to roll up sleeves to build needed tools.
• Collaborative mindset with a “one company” approach and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with partners, suppliers, and vendors to achieve results.

Responsibilities

• Lead and approve Material Approvals (MA) execution across multiple material categories, closing backlogs and building repeatable approval frameworks.
• Execute a structured materials compatibility DOE program.
• Prepare samples, coordinate with prototyping partners, manage external lab contracting, interpret data, and develop internal test protocols with full technical reporting.
• Develop and execute a materials development and validation program for new appearance applications, including test plan development and regulatory/compliance considerations.
• Draft material performance specifications under senior product engineer direction using test data and first-principles reasoning.
• Coordinate material suppliers and align applications with teams to support product launches.

Skills

Materials engineering

DOE program

Supplier engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

MS degree (preferred)

Job description

Contechs is seeking a technically sharp Materials Engineer to accelerate our accessories program, spanning mold-in-color surfaces, soft trim, and other decorative materials. You will own execution across an active materials engineering program including development, test planning, material approvals, and supplier engagement.

Reporting to the Head of Accessories, you will lead MA execution, DOE compatibility studies, sample preparation, lab coordination, and cross-functional collaboration to