We are seeking an experienced Product Development Engineer with expertise in plastic and automotive applications. The ideal candidate will possess strong problem-solving skills, technical expertise in resin and material formulations, and a creative approach to product development in the automotive industry. This role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure product success and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the IPR strategy in the relevant area and collaborate on IP innovation projects.
• Lead the preparation and execution of product-related test runs for new products.
• Support and collaborate in product/production audits from customers and end users.
• Optimize cost and complexity of the defined product portfolio, and define improvement actions.
• Troubleshoot in production, marketing projects, and provide industrial state-of-the-art training for internal engineers.
• Lead technical investigations and make decisions on the justification of product claims.
• Identify and implement incremental product modifications to improve performance, reduce costs, improve quality, or change asset sources.
• Monitor raw material quality, supplier performance, and variable cost positions. Propose and support corrective, improvement, and cost-saving actions while managing changes.
• Contribute to overall HSE&Q performance, maintaining high standards in safety, health, environmental, and quality practices.
• Secure HSE checks for test runs and new products, ensuring they are documented according to procedures.
• Classify and place non-FTR materials and slow-moving products for the defined product slate on the market, working with Sales and Technical Service.
• Suggest and implement different packaging options.
• Be responsible for the technical content of Product Data Sheets (PDS) and Technical Base Specifications (TBS).
• Take ownership of Internal Product Specifications (IPS) and/or External Product Specifications (EPS).

Qualifications

• Strong creativity and ability to think innovatively in the product development process.
• Expertise in mineral/short glass fiber-filled polyolefin compounds for interior and exterior automotive applications.
• In-depth knowledge of thermoplastic resins, including high-performance engineering resins, TPE, TPOs, functional additives, stabilizers, flow enhancers, pigments, and mineral-based fillers.
• Understanding of OEM specifications and approval processes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of commercial product development, including scale-up, production-scale compounding, formulation, grade development, and materials management.
• Knowledge of polymer production technologies.
• Ability to understand the commercial implications of technical solutions.
• Driven to achieve excellent results throughout the design and development process.
• Expertise in product formulation, property-application relationships.
• In-depth knowledge of additives/ingredients functionality, availability, cost, and quality.
• Familiarity with materials, applications, manufacturing, chemistry, physics, modeling, and processing.