Plastics Engineer

Red Rover Recruitment; Wixom (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Medical insurance

Job summary

A leading recruiting firm is seeking a Plastics Engineer for a client in Wixom, MI. This role involves managing EBM facility projects, optimizing production processes, and ensuring compliance with quality standards. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience with extrusion blow molding of HDPE bottles and be proficient in troubleshooting and process improvements. Competitive salary from $80,000 to $90,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience specifically with extrusion blow molding of HDPE bottles.
• Strong hands-on experience with parison control, trimming systems, and deflash.
• Solid understanding of polymer behavior, especially HDPE and blends.

Responsibilities

• Manage new EBM facility project.
• Set up and fine-tune EBM machines for HDPE bottle production.
• Diagnose and resolve production issues such as uneven wall thickness and leaks.
• Monitor wall thickness profiles, bottle weights, and dimensional tolerances.

Skills

Extrusion blow molding

Troubleshooting molding defects

Process improvement

Statistical process control (SPC)

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Bekum

Kautex

Uniloy

Job description

Overview

Our client is one of North America’s largest and fastest-growing privately owned contract manufacturers, producing household cleaning and personal care products for many of the biggest names in retail. The company has a strong presence across multiple facilities, including FDA-regulated operations in Chicago, a high-output plant in Wixom, and their flagship detergent site in Toronto. Now poised to double in size, the company is experiencing rapid expansion and partners with some of the largest retailers, offering team members the opportunity to make a real impact in a high-growth environment. If you’re strategic, results-driven, and excited by innovation, this is your chance to grow with a leader in the consumer goods manufacturing space.

Key Responsibilities

Process Development & Optimization

• Manage new EBM facility project
• Set up and fine-tune EBM machines for HDPE bottle production (e.g., Bekum, Kautex, Jomar, Uniloy, or equivalent)
• Optimize parameters for parison programming, cooling cycles, trimming, and deflashing
• Implement process improvements to enhance bottle consistency, reduce cycle time, and increase throughput

Mold & Tooling Management

• Provide technical input on blow mold design and venting, especially for complex bottle geometries
• Lead mold changeovers and assist with first article inspections and mold trials
• Collaborate with tooling suppliers to resolve mold wear, hot spots, and parting line flash issues

Troubleshooting & Maintenance Support

• Diagnose and resolve production issues such as uneven wall thickness, short shots, flash, leaks, or poor dimensional control
• Partner with maintenance to ensure uptime of extrusion heads, die lips, and clamping systems

Quality & Compliance

• Monitor wall thickness profiles, bottle weights, and dimensional tolerances
• Support quality assurance by ensuring compliance with GMP, ISO 9001, and customer specifications
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and process control documentation

Sustainability & Cost Efficiency

• Drive material efficiency through light weighting, resin optimization, and cycle time reduction
• Support integration of post-consumer recycled (PCR) HDPE without compromising bottle integrity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or related field preferred
• 10+ years experience specifically with extrusion blow molding of HDPE bottles
• Strong hands-on experience with parison control, trimming systems, and deflash
• Familiarity with machine platforms such as Bekum, Kautex, or Uniloy
• Proficiency in troubleshooting molding defects and process deviations
• Solid understanding of polymer behavior, especially HDPE and blends
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), lean manufacturing, and root cause analysis

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Engineering, Manufacturing, and Production
• Industries: Chemical Manufacturing, Chemical Raw Materials Manufacturing, and Manufacturing

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Inferred from the description for this job

401(k)

Medical insurance

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