Polymer Materials Engineer

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Pty; Findlay (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K Match

Health Insurance

Vacation

Paid Holidays

Personal Development

Job summary

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies in Findlay, OH is seeking a Polymer Materials Engineer to develop and optimize thermoplastic compounds for automotive and general industries. You will lead DOE-based testing, material characterization, and pilot trials to support new product introductions and process improvements.

The role requires a Bachelor's in a relevant field and 3+ years in materials engineering, polymer development, or plastics processing, with strong analytical and experimental

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in a relevant engineering or science field.
• Experience with thermoplastic materials and polymer processing.

Responsibilities

• Develop, formulate, qualify, and optimize thermoplastic compounds to meet customer, manufacturing, quality, and performance requirements.
• Lead investigations into material, processing, and product performance issues using root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Design and execute laboratory and production trials, including DOE, material characterization, and validation testing for new products.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D to improve manufacturability and product performance.
• Evaluate, qualify, and implement new materials, formulations, and suppliers for innovation and cost reduction.
• Support internal stakeholders and customers with material selection, application development, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
• Analyze material performance data, maintain technical docs, and establish best practices in thermoplastic materials.

Skills

Thermoplastic materials

DOE methodologies

Material characterization

Statistical analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheology

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.

We at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies run the business operations of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, our company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for automotive and general industries. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between Freudenberg and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, MI, operates more than 20 facilities and employs about 4,700 people across the Americas.

Some of your Benefits

• 401K Match: Save for retirement with the company's help.
• Health Insurance: Rely on comprehensive services whenever you need it.
• Vacation: We offer time off to refresh and recharge.
• Paid Holidays: With paid-time off, local holidays are all the way more relaxing.
• Personal Development: We offer a variety of trainings to ensure you can develop in your career.

Findlay, OH
On-Site
Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership

You support our team as

Polymer Materials Engineer

Responsibilities

• Develop, formulate, qualify, and optimize thermoplastic compounds to meet customer, manufacturing, quality, and performance requirements.
• Lead investigations into material, processing, and product performance issues using structured root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
• Design and execute laboratory and production trials, including Design of Experiments (DOE), material characterization, and validation testing to support new product introductions and process improvements.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D teams to improve manufacturability, product performance, and cost competitiveness.
• Evaluate, qualify, and implement new materials, formulations, and suppliers to support innovation, supply continuity, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Serve as a technical resource for internal stakeholders and customers by supporting material selection, application development, troubleshooting, and performance optimization for new and existing products.
• Analyze material performance data, maintain technical documentation and material databases, and help establish best practices in thermoplastic materials and processing technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemistry, or a related engineering discipline.
• Three or more years of experience in materials engineering, polymer development, plastics processing, compounding, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of thermoplastic materials, polymer behavior, and manufacturing processes such as compounding, extrusion, or injection molding.
• Experience troubleshooting material, product, or process performance issues and implementing effective technical solutions.
• Strong analytical and experimental skills, including experience with statistical problem-solving tools, DOE methodologies, and material characterization techniques such as FTIR, DSC, TGA, rheology, ASTM, or similar testing methods.
• Proven ability to manage multiple technical projects, work independently, and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams while supporting customer and application development initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and developing practical engineering solutions.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.