Polymer Materials Engineer

Freudenberg Group; Findlay (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg Group is seeking a materials engineer to develop and optimize thermoplastic compounds, leading tests and DOE studies to meet customer and production needs.

You will partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D to improve manufacturability, performance, and cost, while documenting results and supporting product introductions.

The role requires a BS in a related field, 3+ years of experience, and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering discipline is required.
• 3+ years in materials engineering or plastics processing in manufacturing.
• Experience with thermoplastic materials, polymer behavior, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience troubleshooting material or process issues with technical solutions.
• Strong analytical and experimental skills including DOE and material characterization techniques.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and optimize thermoplastic compounds to meet requirements.
• Lead investigations into material, processing, and product performance issues using root-cause analysis.
• Design and execute DOE, characterization, and validation tests for new products.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D to improve manufacturability and cost.
• Evaluate and qualify new materials, formulations, and suppliers for innovation and continuity.
• Support material selection and troubleshooting for customers and applications.
• Analyze data, maintain documentation, and help establish best practices in thermoplastics.

Skills

Materials science

Polymer development

Thermoplastic processing

DOE and statistics

Material characterization

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

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

Tools

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheology

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