Polymer Materials Engineer

Freudenberg Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; Findlay (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg Group seeks a Materials Engineer to develop and optimize thermoplastic compounds, lead DOE-based trials, and collaborate with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D to enhance product performance and reduce costs.

You will analyze material performance, maintain technical documentation, and support customers with material selection and troubleshooting, while advancing best practices in processing technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering discipline is required.
• Three+ years of experience in materials engineering, polymer development, plastics processing or a related manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of thermoplastic materials, polymer behavior, and manufacturing processes such as compounding, extrusion, or injection molding.

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 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

Analytical skills

Experimental skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

Tools

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheology

ASTM

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