Senior Defect Analysis Engineer – Root-Cause Expert

XPEL, Inc.

San Antonio (TX)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 150,000

Full time

14 days+

A complete application in a minute

Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

XPEL is seeking a Sr. R&D Engineer to support R&D and manufacturing teams in San Antonio, TX. You will lead core technology development across the product portfolio, drive defect investigations, and apply RCA workflows to improve processes.

The role requires deep polymer/material science expertise and hands-on surface analysis leadership. Strong collaboration with Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain is essential to identify key materials and expand capabilities for the company’s coatings

Qualifications

Bachelor-level degree in a STEM field with 5–10 years of analytical lab experience.
Strong background in polymer/material science and coatings.
Experience leading root cause investigations in polymer film or coating environments.
Hands-on command of surface analysis and imaging techniques.
Experience working with diverse vendors and interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

Lead development of XPEL core technologies across product portfolio.
Serve as lab's principal investigator for PPF/WPF manufacturing defects across processes.
Apply RCA workflow to identify defect origins and implement fixes.
Lead surface analysis and imaging work across multiple platforms.
Run thermal/molecular characterization and chemical analyses to confirm aging mechanisms.
Collaborate with Quality/Manufacturing/Supply Chain to secure key materials.