Lead Materials Process Engineer

Join a pioneering company, partnered with Aquent Talent, at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to shaping the future of consumer products through advanced materials and cutting-edge manufacturing. Our mission is to transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible, high-performance solutions that delight consumers worldwide. We are a dynamic, collaborative environment where creativity meets engineering excellence, driving the evolution of our industry.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, optimization, and validation of advanced material manufacturing processes from concept through commercialization; Partner with manufacturing teams and suppliers to improve process capability, scalability, and production readiness; Analyze material performance data, laboratory testing results, and manufacturing metrics to identify improvement opportunities; Develop and implement process controls, operating windows, validation plans, and engineering standards; Apply statistical methods including Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and process capability analysis to reduce variation and improve quality; Lead root cause investigations related to material performance, process variation, and manufacturing challenges; Translate technical findings into Design for Manufacturing (DFM) guidelines and scalable production requirements; Support factory trials, process validation activities, and commercialization efforts with global manufacturing partners; Create technical documentation including process specifications, control plans, and manufacturing best practices; Collaborate across Materials, Product Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to drive technical decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline; 3+ years of experience in materials development, polymer engineering, process engineering, or manufacturing engineering; Experience working with polymer materials and material characterization; Experience developing, testing, optimizing, or scaling materials and manufacturing processes; Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting technical data and using data-driven approaches to solve problems; Experience with process improvement methodologies such as SPC, DOE, process capability analysis, or similar techniques; Ability to work effectively in manufacturing environments and collaborate with factory or supplier partners; Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams; Self-starter who can independently manage projects, prioritize work, and drive results.

Nice to have

Experience with polyurethane (PU) materials, elastomers, foams, coatings, adhesives, or similar polymer systems; Laboratory testing experience related to material performance, reliability, or validation; Experience supporting product commercialization, manufacturing scale-up, or new product introduction (NPI); Experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles; Experience working with global manufacturing partners or suppliers; Familiarity with statistical analysis software; Experience in apparel, footwear, sporting goods, consumer products, or other materials-driven industries; CNC, tooling, or manufacturing process certifications.

Benefits

Subsidized health, vision, and dental plans; Paid sick leave; Retirement plans with a match; Free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.