Senior Defect Analysis Engineer – Root-Cause Expert

XPEL, Inc.

San Antonio (TX)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 150,000

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

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.

Skills

Polymer science
Materials science
Coatings
Adhesive chemistry
Analytical problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Materials Science/Polymer Science/Chemical Engineering
MS/PhD preferred

Tools

SEM/EDS
AFM
3D optical profilometry
XPS
ToF-SIMS

Job description

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

Get your free, confidential resume review.
or drag and drop your file here.
Similar jobs

Similar jobs worth comparing

Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect & Root-Cause Lead
Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect & Root-Cause Lead

XPEL • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 120,000 - 180,000
Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect Analysis & Root Cause Investigation
Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect Analysis & Root Cause Investigation

XPEL, Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 110,000 - 150,000
Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect Analysis & Root Cause Investigation
Senior Analytical Engineer - Defect Analysis & Root Cause Investigation

XPEL • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 120,000 - 180,000
Senior Color Chemistry R&D Engineer – TPU & Coatings
Senior Color Chemistry R&D Engineer – TPU & Coatings

XPEL, Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 95,000 - 120,000
Lead Color Chemistry R&D Engineer — Pigment Innovation
Lead Color Chemistry R&D Engineer — Pigment Innovation

XPEL Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 90,000 - 120,000
Laboratory Operations Lead, Polymer Films & Coatings
Laboratory Operations Lead, Polymer Films & Coatings

XPEL, Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 120,000 - 150,000
Senior TPU Chemistry & Processing R&D Engineer
Senior TPU Chemistry & Processing R&D Engineer

XPEL, Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 90,000 - 120,000
Principal R&D Engineer - Color Chemistry
Principal R&D Engineer - Color Chemistry

XPEL Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 90,000 - 120,000
Senior Defects Engineer: Process & Knowledge Base Lead
Senior Defects Engineer: Process & Knowledge Base Lead

Applied Materials, Inc. • Santa Clara (CA)

On-site
USD 124,000 - 171,000
Principal R&D Engineer - TPU Chemistry and Processing
Principal R&D Engineer - TPU Chemistry and Processing

XPEL Inc. • San Antonio (TX)

On-site
USD 90,000 - 120,000