Sr Engineer R & D

Owens Corning; Summit (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Owens Corning is seeking an Asphalt Technology & Productivity Engineer to strengthen the asphalt supply chain, drive material qualification, and lead plant trials across North America. You will apply material science and data analysis to improve performance, reliability, and cost effectiveness of asphalt materials for Roofing products.

The role involves collaboration with R&D, Sourcing, Operations, Quality, and suppliers, with travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, chemistry, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience in asphalt, petroleum, polymers, coatings, roofing, specialty chemicals, manufacturing, or related materials/process technology.
• Strong knowledge of material science and chemistry.
• Experience with process design, formulation development, material qualification, process optimization, or continuous improvement projects.
• Demonstrated project management skills with ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to translate technical data, risk, and clearly to technical, operational, sourcing, commercial, supplier and customer audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety: our safety stand is all accidents are preventable; safety is everyone's responsibility and working safely is a condition of employment.
• Demonstrated commitment to Inclusion & Diversity: our I&D aspiration is that all employees are heard and appreciated for the value each distinct voice brings to the team; it doesn't matter where you are on the I&D journey, as long as you are on the journey.
• Up to 30% travel is needed to deliver project work and process support.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical evaluation, qualification, and management of asphalt supply sources, alternative materials, and supplier approval programs.
• Develop and execute laboratory, pilot, and manufacturing validation plans that assess material performance, consistency, compatibility, and business risk.
• Establish technical acceptance criteria, qualification protocols, and risk assessment frameworks that enable consistent supplier approval and sourcing decisions.
• Improve supply security through dual sourcing, contingency planning, proactive material screening, and technical strategies that reduce single-source dependency.
• Partner with Sourcing to identify, screen, qualify, approve, or disqualify raw material sources using data-based technical recommendations.
• Lead plant trials from design through execution, data analysis, recommendation, and implementation to support material qualification and commercialization.
• Apply principles of material science, statistical analysis, and experimental design to solve complex supply, process, and product performance challenges.
• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams including R&D, Product Development, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Procurement.
• Oversee and provide technical direction for third-party manufacturing and testing activities related to asphalt materials and products.
• Provide technical support for asphalt manufacturing operations, including troubleshooting, quality improvement, process optimization, and productivity initiatives.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams to resolve material performance concerns, manufacturing and quality issues, and supply disruptions.
• Implement new raw materials, formulations, sourcing changes, and process improvements in manufacturing while maintaining product performance, quality, safety, and reliability.
• Evaluate technical risks associated with material, formulation, and process changes and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful implementation.
• Optimize asphalt formulations and manufacturing processes to improve cost position, quality, productivity, and supply flexibility.
• Analyze process, quality, and production data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support product development programs by participating in project teams, technical reviews, and stage-gate processes.
• Provide technical expertise to support strategic business objectives and the continued growth of the asphalt roofing business.
• Represent Owens Corning in industry organizations, technical committees, standards development activities, conferences, and supplier engagements.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, industry experts, and external partners to identify emerging technologies, materials, and best practices.
• Monitor industry, market, and regulatory trends and communicate relevant insights to the business and Roofing R&D organization.
• Leverage external resources, partnerships, and industry knowledge to advance technical capabilities, innovation, and competitive advantage.

Skills

Material science

Chemistry

Process design

Formulation development

Material qualification

Process optimization

Project management

Technical communication

Safety

Diversity & inclusion

Travel willingness

Asphalt formulation

Supplier qualification

Pilot trials

Scale-up data

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, chemistry, or related technical field

5+ years of relevant industry experience in asphalt, petroleum, polymers, coatings, roofing, specialty chemicals, manufacturing, or related materials/process technology

Job description

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Asphalt Technology & Productivity Engineer plays a critical role in protecting and strengthening Owens Corning's asphalt supply position. This role delivers business value by improving supply flexibility, reducing sourcing risk, supporting margin enhancement, and accelerating the qualification of asphalt sources, formulations, and process changes for internal Owens Corning Roofing needs and external Trumbull Asphalt commercial opportunities.

The engineer applies material science, process fundamentals, laboratory testing, pilot-scale validation, plant trials, and data analysis to solve complex asphalt sourcing, formulation, manufacturing, and product performance challenges. The role directly supports business continuity, cost competitiveness, manufacturing reliability, and product performance by ensuring Owens Corning has flexible, technically validated asphalt supply options.

The position is located at Owens Corning's Asphalt R&D Lab in Summit, IL, with regular travel to the Science & Technology Center in Granville, OH and manufacturing plants across North America. The role works closely with the Asphalt R&D Team and partners across Asphalt Sourcing, Quality, Operations, Commercial Asphalt, Components R&D, Shingle R&D, Product Management, Legal, suppliers, manufacturing sites, and customers. Owens Corning is a leader in the building materials industry with a $4.4 billion Roofing Business operating asphalt and roofing manufacturing locations across the US and globally.

Reports to: Asphalt R&D Leader

Span of Control: Individual contributor who works across asphalt products

Job Responsibilities

Asphalt Productivity & Supply Security (50%)

• Lead technical evaluation, qualification, and management of asphalt supply sources, alternative materials, and supplier approval programs.
• Develop and execute laboratory, pilot, and manufacturing validation plans that assess material performance, consistency, compatibility, and business risk.
• Establish technical acceptance criteria, qualification protocols, and risk assessment frameworks that enable consistent supplier approval and sourcing decisions.
• Improve supply security through dual sourcing, contingency planning, proactive material screening, and technical strategies that reduce single-source dependency.
• Partner with Sourcing to identify, screen, qualify, approve, or disqualify raw material sources using data-based technical recommendations.
• Lead plant trials from design through execution, data analysis, recommendation, and implementation to support material qualification and commercialization.
• Apply principles of material science, statistical analysis, and experimental design to solve complex supply, process, and product performance challenges.
• Provide technical leadership across cross-functional teams including R&D, Product Development, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Procurement.
• Oversee and provide technical direction for third-party manufacturing and testing activities related to asphalt materials and products.

Manufacturing & Business Support (45%)

• Provide technical support for asphalt manufacturing operations, including troubleshooting, quality improvement, process optimization, and productivity initiatives.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams to resolve material performance concerns, manufacturing and quality issues, and supply disruptions.
• Implement new raw materials, formulations, sourcing changes, and process improvements in manufacturing while maintaining product performance, quality, safety, and reliability.
• Evaluate technical risks associated with material, formulation, and process changes and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful implementation.
• Optimize asphalt formulations and manufacturing processes to improve cost position, quality, productivity, and supply flexibility.
• Analyze process, quality, and production data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support product development programs by participating in project teams, technical reviews, and stage-gate processes.
• Provide technical expertise to support strategic business objectives and the continued growth of the asphalt roofing business.

Industry and External Collaboration (5%)

• Represent Owens Corning in industry organizations, technical committees, standards development activities, conferences, and supplier engagements.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, industry experts, and external partners to identify emerging technologies, materials, and best practices.
• Monitor industry, market, and regulatory trends and communicate relevant insights to the business and Roofing R&D organization.
• Leverage external resources, partnerships, and industry knowledge to advance technical capabilities, innovation, and competitive advantage.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or higher in chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, chemistry, or related technical field
• 5 or more years of relevant industry experience in asphalt, petroleum, polymers, coatings, roofing, specialty chemicals, manufacturing, or related materials/process technology
• Strong knowledge of material science and chemistry
• Experience with process design, formulation development, material qualification, process optimization, or continuous improvement projects
• Demonstrated project management skills with ability to work independently and in a team
• Ability to translate technical data, risk, and clearly to technical, operational, sourcing, commercial, supplier and customer audiences
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety: our safety stand is all accidents are preventable; safety is everyone's responsibility and working safely is a condition of employment
• Demonstrated commitment to Inclusion & Diversity: our I&D aspiration is that all employees are heard and appreciated for the value each distinct voice brings to the team; it doesn't matter where you are on the I&D journey, as long as you are on the journey
• Up to 30% travel is needed to deliver project work and process support

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with asphalt formulation, supplier qualification, raw material second sourcing, pilot trials, or production-scale implementation
• Experience using experimental design, statistical analysis, laboratory characterization, and scale-up data to make technical recommendations
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex issues
• Innovative mindset and the agility to adapt to and mitigate risks in an ever-changing business
• Customer-facing, supplier-facing, or cross-functional leadership experience in a technical business environment

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a branded building products leader with three complementary market-leading businesses providing roofing, insulation, and doors primarily for residential markets in North America and Europe. The company operates with an integrated go-to-market strategy and a unique set of OC Advantages - including its iconic brand, unparalleled commercial strength, leading technology, and winning cost position - to help customers win and grow in the market. Owens Corning is committed to helping build better and achieve more through winning partnerships, leading performance, and engaging people. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OC). For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com .

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.