Staff Supplier Development Engineer

Job Title - Staff Supplier Development Engineer

Job location - Acton, MA, 01720

Duration - Contract - 6 months (possibility of extension & conversion)

Pay - $80 - $90/hr

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Staff Plastics Supplier Development Engineer to support the development, qualification, and continuous improvement of external manufacturing suppliers specializing in plastic components and injection molding processes. This role will focus on supplier technical development, injection molding tooling, plastic component design, manufacturing process optimization, and risk mitigation within a highly regulated medical device manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in injection molding, mold tooling, plastic part design, and supplier manufacturing processes. This individual will partner closely with internal engineering, quality, operations, product development, and external suppliers to ensure components and manufacturing processes meet stringent requirements for quality, performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

The successful candidate will serve as a technical resource for supplier development activities, lead complex engineering initiatives, resolve manufacturing challenges, and drive robust, scalable production processes from early design through qualification and ongoing production.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Development and Technical Leadership

• Lead technical development and qualification of external suppliers manufacturing precision plastic components for medical device applications.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, tooling infrastructure, and quality systems to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Provide technical guidance to suppliers on injection molding processes, tooling design, material selection, and process optimization.
• Collaborate with supplier engineering teams to resolve complex manufacturing and quality issues.
• Establish and maintain strong technical relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Drive supplier readiness for new product introductions, design changes, process transfers, and production scale-up.

Injection Molding and Tooling Engineering

• Lead injection molding tooling development, including mold design reviews, tooling specifications, design-for-manufacturability assessments, and tooling qualification.
• Review plastic component designs for manufacturability, dimensional accuracy, material suitability, process capability, and production consistency.
• Support tooling kickoffs, mold trials, design reviews, and factory acceptance testing (FAT).
• Identify and resolve mold-related issues, including dimensional variation, cosmetic defects, warpage, shrinkage, flash, and process instability.
• Apply scientific injection molding principles to establish robust and repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Support the development and optimization of molding cells, including automation, vision inspection systems, and cavity-pressure monitoring where applicable.
• Evaluate tooling modifications and process changes to improve yield, productivity, quality, and long-term manufacturing reliability.

Design for Manufacturability and Process Optimization

• Partner with product development and design engineering teams to incorporate manufacturability early in the product development lifecycle.
• Conduct design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews and provide recommendations for plastic part geometry, wall thickness, draft angles, tolerances, gating, and material selection.
• Utilize mold-flow simulation tools, such as Moldflow or equivalent software, to assess filling, packing, cooling, warpage, and other molding considerations where applicable.
• Evaluate manufacturing process data and capability studies to identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Support the introduction of new tooling, equipment, materials, and manufacturing technologies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, scrap, cycle time, and manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality.

Quality, Risk Management, and Problem Resolution

• Lead root cause investigations for supplier manufacturing issues, process deviations, and component nonconformances.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and verify their effectiveness.
• Perform manufacturing risk assessments and support failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) activities.
• Establish appropriate process controls, validation strategies, and monitoring methods to maintain consistent production quality.
• Support supplier audits, process assessments, qualification activities, and ongoing performance improvement.
• Ensure manufacturing changes are appropriately evaluated, documented, and controlled in accordance with applicable medical device quality requirements.

Materials and Specialized Manufacturing Processes

• Apply knowledge of engineering plastics, medical-grade polymers, thermoplastics, and other materials used in precision molded components.
• Support material and process selection based on functional requirements, dimensional stability, durability, and manufacturability.
• Provide technical input on silicone manufacturing and molding processes where applicable.
• Collaborate with material suppliers and molding partners to address processing challenges, material variability, and product performance concerns.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Documentation

• Work closely with product development, quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations, and supplier quality teams.
• Communicate technical recommendations, project risks, investigation results, and supplier readiness to stakeholders.
• Prepare and review engineering documentation, tooling specifications, process qualification records, technical reports, and risk assessments.
• Provide technical leadership across multiple supplier development initiatives while balancing project timelines, quality expectations, and business priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in injection molding tooling development, plastic component design, or closely related plastics engineering activities.
• Strong understanding of injection molding processes, mold tooling, plastic part design, and manufacturing process development.
• Experience conducting design-for-manufacturability reviews and resolving complex tooling or molding issues.
• Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis, develop corrective actions, and implement risk mitigation strategies.
• Experience collaborating with external manufacturing suppliers and providing technical guidance on manufacturing processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence technical decisions across supplier and internal engineering teams.
• Ability to manage multiple engineering priorities and work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Willingness to travel to supplier and manufacturing sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in medical device manufacturing or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience with silicone molding, including liquid silicone rubber (LSR), or other specialized elastomer manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of scientific injection molding methodologies and structured process development.
• Experience with Moldflow or comparable mold-flow simulation software.
• Familiarity with medical-grade polymers and precision plastic components.
• Experience with mold design reviews, tooling specifications, tooling kickoffs, mold trials, and factory acceptance testing.
• Experience with molding-cell automation, machine vision inspection, and cavity-pressure monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of process validation, qualification protocols, statistical process control (SPC), process capability, and risk management tools.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, supplier transfers, production scale-up, and continuous improvement programs.

Key Competencies

• Advanced plastics and injection molding technical knowledge
• Supplier technical development and relationship management
• Mold tooling and plastic component design
• Design for manufacturability and process optimization
• Structured problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Cross-functional technical leadership
• Clear communication and sound engineering judgment
• Project execution and prioritization

Work Environment and Travel

This position is based in Acton, Massachusetts, with travel to supplier or manufacturing locations as needed. Travel is expected to average approximately 15-25%, with the possibility of reaching 40% depending on project requirements.

The role requires close collaboration with engineering teams, manufacturing partners, and external suppliers to support technical development, process qualification, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior plastics or injection molding engineer who combines deep technical expertise in mold tooling and plastic part design with the ability to influence and develop external manufacturing suppliers. The candidate should be comfortable leading complex technical investigations, improving molding processes, supporting new product introduction, and ensuring robust manufacturing performance in a quality-driven environment.

Desired Skills and Experience

Job Title - Staff Supplier Development Engineer
Job location - Acton, MA, 01720
Duration - Contract - 6 months (possibility of extension & conversion)
Pay - $80 - $90/hr
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Staff Plastics Supplier Development Engineer to support the development, qualification, and continuous improvement of external manufacturing suppliers specializing in plastic components and injection molding processes. This role will focus on supplier technical development, injection molding tooling, plastic component design, manufacturing process optimization, and risk mitigation within a highly regulated medical device manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in injection molding, mold tooling, plastic part design, and supplier manufacturing processes. This individual will partner closely with internal engineering, quality, operations, product development, and external suppliers to ensure components and manufacturing processes meet stringent requirements for quality, performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
The successful candidate will serve as a technical resource for supplier development activities, lead complex engineering initiatives, resolve manufacturing challenges, and drive robust, scalable production processes from early design through qualification and ongoing production.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Development and Technical Leadership
* Lead technical development and qualification of external suppliers manufacturing precision plastic components for medical device applications.
* Evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, tooling infrastructure, and quality systems to identify opportunities for improvement.
* Provide technical guidance to suppliers on injection molding processes, tooling design, material selection, and process optimization.
* Collaborate with supplier engineering teams to resolve complex manufacturing and quality issues.
* Establish and maintain strong technical relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
* Drive supplier readiness for new product introductions, design changes, process transfers, and production scale-up.
Injection Molding and Tooling Engineering
* Lead injection molding tooling development, including mold design reviews, tooling specifications, design-for-manufacturability assessments, and tooling qualification.
* Review plastic component designs for manufacturability, dimensional accuracy, material suitability, process capability, and production consistency.
* Support tooling kickoffs, mold trials, design reviews, and factory acceptance testing (FAT).
* Identify and resolve mold-related issues, including dimensional variation, cosmetic defects, warpage, shrinkage, flash, and process instability.
* Apply scientific injection molding principles to establish robust and repeatable manufacturing processes.
* Support the development and optimization of molding cells, including automation, vision inspection systems, and cavity-pressure monitoring where applicable.
* Evaluate tooling modifications and process changes to improve yield, productivity, quality, and long-term manufacturing reliability.
Design for Manufacturability and Process Optimization
* Partner with product development and design engineering teams to incorporate manufacturability early in the product development lifecycle.
* Conduct design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews and provide recommendations for plastic part geometry, wall thickness, draft angles, tolerances, gating, and material selection.
* Utilize mold-flow simulation tools, such as Moldflow or equivalent software, to assess filling, packing, cooling, warpage, and other molding considerations where applicable.
* Evaluate manufacturing process data and capability studies to identify opportunities for process improvement.
* Support the introduction of new tooling, equipment, materials, and manufacturing technologies.
* Drive continuous improvemen

Dexian stands at the forefront of Talent Technology solutions with a presence spanning more than 70 locations worldwide and a team exceeding 10,000 professionals. As one of the largest technology and professional staffing companies and one of the largest minority-owned staffing companies in the United States, Dexian combines over 30 years of industry expertise with cutting-edge technologies to deliver comprehensive global services and support.  
 
Dexian connects the right talent and the right technology with the right organizations to deliver trajectory-changing results that help everyone achieve their ambitions and goals. To learn more, please visit https://dexian.com/.

Dexian is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.