Principal Polymer Materials Engineer — Advanced Polymers

Milwaukee Tool; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Milwaukee Tool is seeking a Principal Materials Engineer – Polymers to drive material selection, validation, and manufacturability for hand tools, PPE, and storage products. Youll lead polymer systems from concept to production, engage suppliers, and translate data into decisive design choices with high autonomy in Advanced Engineering.

The role emphasizes early exploration, platform strategies, and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate commercialization and robust performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in polymer materials engineering across R&D, development, or manufacturing.
• Deep expertise in plastics, elastomers, coatings, adhesives, and composites.
• Proven ability to solve complex technical problems and lead root cause analysis.
• Experience working directly with material suppliers and development partners.
• Strong ability to translate data into decisions and communicate across functions.

Responsibilities

• Define material performance intent tied to end-use conditions, durability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Develop, qualify, and implement polymer systems from concept through production-ready specifications.
• Define and execute platform-level material strategies across product architectures.
• Translate experimental and field data into material and process decisions.
• Scout and evaluate emerging polymer technologies to expand capability roadmap.
• Design novel test methodologies to fully characterize material behavior.
• Lead direct technical engagement with global material suppliers and partners.
• Lead root-cause investigations for complex material failures and drive improvements.
• Provide targeted support to high-impact production or field issues.
• Influence design, manufacturing, and sourcing decisions for better manufacturability.

Skills

Polymer materials

Injection molding

DFM

Materials characterization

Root cause analysis

Supplier engagement

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, or related field

Tools

Moldflow

FEA

Polymer testing equipment

Job description

Milwaukee Tool is seeking a Principal Materials Engineer – Polymers to drive material selection, validation, and manufacturability for hand tools, PPE, and storage products. Youll lead polymer systems from concept to production, engage suppliers, and translate data into decisive design choices with high autonomy in Advanced Engineering.

The role emphasizes early exploration, platform strategies, and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate commercialization and robust performance.