Polymer Materials Engineer

Freudenberg; Findlay (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg is seeking a Materials Engineer to develop, qualify, and optimize thermoplastic compounds for customer and manufacturing needs. You will lead material investigations, design experiments, and collaborate across Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D to improve performance and reduce costs.

You will perform DOE-based trials, material characterization, and validation testing to support new products and process improvements, serving as a technical resource for customers.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in a related engineering discipline and 3+ years in materials engineering or plastics 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 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.

Skills

Thermoplastic materials knowledge

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science / Polymer Science / Chemical Engineering / Plastics Engineering / Chemistry

Tools

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheology

DOE methodologies

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

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.

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership Welcome to Freudenberg Without Freudenberg, indoor air would not be as clean, cars would not drive and wounds would not heal as quickly.

And these are just three examples from thousands of our applications.

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 51,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually.

Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.