Technical Service Engineer / Applications Engineer | High-Growth Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)

Pave Talent; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global chemical manufacturing company seeks a Technical Service Engineer to drive growth in thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs). This role combines technical problem-solving with business development, offering a clear path to leadership. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in TPUs and film extrusion, along with excellent analytical and communication skills. The position allows for remote work but requires significant travel across North America.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Pension plan

Paid paternity leave

Child care support

Paid maternity leave

Student loan assistance

Disability insurance

Tuition assistance

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional technical experience in product and application development.
• Deep, hands-on expertise with TPUs is critical.
• Proven experience with film extrusion processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical service and consultative support to customers.
• Actively hunt for new business opportunities in TPU applications.
• Conduct thorough laboratory investigations to resolve technical challenges.

Skills

Analytical

Problem Solving

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Plastic Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Polymers

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Material Science

Job description

Technical Service Engineer / Applications Engineer | High-Growth Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)

Technical Service Engineer / Applications Engineer | High-Growth Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)

This range is provided by Pave Talent. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$120,000.00/yr - $140,000.00/yr

Are you a driven and experienced technical professional with deep expertise in thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and hands-on film extrusion? Are you looking for an opportunity to not only solve complex technical challenges but also to actively "hunt" for new business and step into a clear leadership succession path?

Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, a leading global chemical manufacturing company, for a pivotal Technical Service Engineer / Applications Engineer role within their rapidly expanding Americas Elastomers business. This is a unique chance to make a significant impact in a strategic growth area and advance your career.

About Our Client:

Our client is an established chemical manufacturing company with a global footprint. They foster a collaborative, integrated team culture with fewer corporate layers than many larger competitors, enabling quicker decision-making and a more direct impact for their employees. While offering the agility of a focused regional team (the Americas Elastomers group is around 100 people, with the key Derry, NH site having ~8 employees), you'll have access to global R&D resources and opportunities for cross-regional collaboration.

The Opportunity: A Role with Impact and a Path to Leadership

This newly created position is much more than a standard technical service role. It offers a significant career progression opportunity, as it is designed as the direct successor to the current Technical Service Manager who is retiring in approximately 13-18 months. You will be groomed for this leadership role from day one.

The role is dynamic, balancing critical technical problem-solving for key customers (approximately 30-40% of your time) with a primary focus on proactively driving new business development and commercial growth initiatives (60-70%). You will be at the forefront of identifying and developing new applications for TPUs, particularly in the film and sheet sector, a key growth engine for the business.

What You'll Do:

• Become the Go-To TPU Expert & Problem Solver: Provide hands-on technical service and consultative support to customers, building strong relationships and demonstrating the differentiation of the company's elastomers.
• Leverage your deep TPU knowledge and film extrusion expertise to troubleshoot complex processing issues directly at customer sites.
• Drive Growth through Application Development & "Hunting": Actively "hunt" for new business opportunities, identifying unmet customer needs and translating them into innovative TPU applications.
• Lead and participate in customer trials to effectively demonstrate technology and products, directly contributing to successful sales outcomes.
• Plan and implement laboratory projects to develop new products or modify existing applications based on market insights.
• Serve as the "voice of the customer" internally, providing clear, actionable guidance to the Technology & Innovation (T&I) team.
• Collaborate and Lead: Work closely with a cross-functional team, including Sales, Marketing, and T&I.
• Supportthe elastomers development teams when newly developed products or technologies need customer validation.
• Coach, counsel, and mentor junior technical associates and technicians, fostering their growth and development.
• Maintain Technical Excellence:Conduct thorough laboratory investigations to resolve technical service challenges or support product development.
• Prepare well-written, concise reports with rigorous data analysis.
• Continuously maintain state-of-the-art technical knowledge on company and competitive products and customer manufacturing technologies.

Who We're Looking For:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Plastic Engineering, Polymers, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Material Science.

• Minimum 5 years of professional technical experience in product and application development, and/or technical service within the Thermoplastics Elastomers industry.
• Deep, hands-on expertise with TPUs (thermoplastic polyurethanes) is critical.
• Proven experience with film extrusion processes is the highest priority. Experience with other extrusion (hose, tube, cable, profile) and injection molding is also beneficial.
• Minimum 5 years in customer-facing technical roles, with a demonstrated ability to interview both technical and non-technical personnel to define opportunities and solve problems.

Key Skills & Attributes:

• An entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for uncovering new business and driving growth.
• Strong applied knowledge of how material characteristics (makeup, molecular weight, rheology, thermal properties) affect plastics processing and final product performance.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication abilities, with the confidence to present to and consult with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and thrive in a dynamic environment.

Location & Travel: Flexibility with Significant Travel Commitment

This role offers flexibility regarding your base location and can accommodate a remote work arrangement. However, it involves a significant travel commitment, potentially averaging 50-70% of your time. This travel is multifaceted:

• Approximately 50% will be dedicated to visiting customers across North America.
• Crucially, you will also be required to travel frequently to our primary application development and lab site in Derry, NH. Therefore, while you can be based remotely, you must be located within a reasonable travel distance to facilitate regular and repeated trips to the Derry site for hands-on work, team collaboration, and project needs.

The overall travel percentage will fluctuate based on customer demands and internal project cycles. Our priority is finding the top candidate with the right skillset, and we will work to balance travel requirements effectively. Secondary company site considerations for occasional work could include Ringwood, IL, or Auburn Hills, MI, but the Derry, NH, interaction is key.

What We Offer: Beyond the Competitive Package

• Clear & Accelerated Career Advancement: A direct path to a Technical Service Manager role. Your growth is a priority.
• High-Impact Work: Opportunity to be a key player in a high-growth business unit, shaping its future success.
• Innovative & Empowering Environment: A culture that encourages proactive problem-solving, new idea generation, and direct contribution.
• Supportive & Agile Team: Collaborate closely with a dedicated team, supported by global resources, in an environment with less bureaucracy.
• Competitive Compensation: $130,000 - $140,000 base salary plus a 10% target bonus.

Are you ready to take the next step in your technical career and make a lasting impact? If you are a TPU expert with a passion for growth and leadership, apply now to join an innovative team where your expertise will drive business growth and technical excellence!

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Research

• Industries

  Chemical Manufacturing and Plastics Manufacturing

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Pension plan

Paid paternity leave

Child care support

Paid maternity leave

Student loan assistance

Disability insurance

Tuition assistance

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