Raw Materials & Product Development Specialist

Summit Staffing, Inc; Pleasant Prairie (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Staffing, Inc. seeks a Raw Materials & Product Development Specialist to join a Product Technology team in Pleasant Prairie, WI.

The role focuses on raw material qualification, product development, manufacturing trials, and new product introduction, collaborating with operations, planning, sales, and customers. The ideal candidate has an engineering background with hands-on experience in thermoplastic resins, polymers, extrusion, plastic films, or flexible packaging, and is willing to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 3-5 years of technical experience with thermoplastic resin processing.
• Strong understanding of resins, colors, and additives.
• Knowledge of polymers, extrusion, plastic films, and converting processes.
• Experience in the flexible packaging industry is preferred.
• Willingness to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent documentation and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Support raw material qualification, resin optionality, and cost optimization projects.
• Coordinate the ordering and ERP setup of raw materials for testing and qualification.
• Work with Planning and Production to coordinate manufacturing trials.
• Be onsite during new raw material trials and qualification activities.
• Work with Manufacturing Technology to document trials and results.
• Coordinate internal and external testing and document technical results.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and technical resources.
• Maintain and organize technical information within the Raw Material Technical Library.
• Identify opportunities to optimize the raw material portfolio.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Analyze product specifications, application requirements, recipes, and manufacturing methods.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new product requests.
• Support product qualification, samples, manufacturing trials, and scale-ups.
• Visit customers to understand product performance requirements and gather technical feedback.
• Provide ongoing technical support to key customers.
• Participate in customer complaint resolution and technical problem solving.
• Work with Sales and Marketing during new product launches.
• Follow established quality, manufacturing, food safety, and documentation procedures.
• Support requirements related to ISO 9001, SQF, GMP/BPF, and the site's quality management system.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and thorough technical documentation.

Skills

Strong problem-solving

Analytical abilities

Written and verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Documentation

Education

Packaging Engineering

Materials Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Advanced engineering degree (MS/PhD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Raw Materials & Product Development Specialist

• Pleasant Prairie, WI - LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY
• Compensation: $85,000 - $100,000 per year + 5% annual bonus
• Schedule: Monday - Friday | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Raw Materials & Product Development Specialist to join a Product Technology team supporting raw material qualification, product development, manufacturing trials, and new product introduction.

This position will work closely with Operations, Planning, Production, Manufacturing Technology, Sales, Marketing, suppliers, and customers. The ideal candidate has an engineering background and hands-on technical experience working with thermoplastic resins, polymers, extrusion, plastic films, or flexible packaging.

This is a technical role for someone who enjoys solving material and manufacturing problems, supporting new products, and working directly with both internal teams and customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Raw Materials

• Support raw material qualification, resin optionality, and cost optimization projects.
• Coordinate the ordering and ERP setup of raw materials for testing and qualification.
• Work with Planning and Production to coordinate manufacturing trials.
• Be onsite during new raw material trials and qualification activities.
• Work with Manufacturing Technology to document trials and results.
• Coordinate internal and external testing and document technical results.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and technical resources.
• Maintain and organize technical information within the Raw Material Technical Library.
• Identify opportunities to optimize the raw material portfolio.

Product Development

• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Analyze product specifications, application requirements, recipes, and manufacturing methods.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new product requests.
• Support product qualification, samples, manufacturing trials, and scale-ups.
• Visit customers to understand product performance requirements and gather technical feedback.
• Provide ongoing technical support to key customers.
• Participate in customer complaint resolution and technical problem solving.
• Work with Sales and Marketing during new product launches.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Follow established quality, manufacturing, food safety, and documentation procedures.
• Support requirements related to ISO 9001, SQF, GMP/BPF, and the site's quality management system.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and thorough technical documentation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• 3-5 years of technical experience with thermoplastic resin processing.
• Strong understanding of resins, colors, and additives.
• Knowledge of polymers, extrusion, plastic films, and converting processes.
• Experience in the flexible packaging industry is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to investigate raw material and manufacturing challenges and recommend solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent documentation and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with technical, manufacturing, sales, and customer teams.

Preferred Experience:

• New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Manufacturing trials and scale-ups
• Supplier technical support
• Flexible packaging manufacturing
• Thermoplastic resin processing
• Polymer and extrusion applications
• Customer-facing technical support
• Advanced engineering degree (M.S. or Ph.D.)

Compensation & Schedule

Salary: $85,000 - $100,000 annually

Bonus: 5% annual bonus

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI