What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D Applications Engineer position at DOMO Engineering Plastics US, LLC?
To support growth in North America, DOMO Engineering Plastics is seeking to add an R&D Applications Engineer to our team.
The R&D Applications Engineer is responsible for providing technical expertise and support to internal teams and external clients in the development, formulation, and qualification of new and revised compounds for the North American sector. This role is responsible for new product development, cross-site production qualification and homologation, and bridging the gap between sales and production, while ensuring customer requirements are met with high-quality, cost-effective solutions.
Key Accountabilities
Health, Safety, & Environment (HSE)
- Care to Be Safe in all activities throughout the site/plant.
- Active and permanent member of the Safety Committee
- Understands and adheres to all DOMO safety policies and procedures to prevent injury to self and others.
R&D / Applications
- Collaborate with sales and product teams to understand customer needs and propose tailored solutions.
- Work closely with clients to identify opportunities for engineering plastics in new designs or replacements for metal, rubber, or other materials.
- Assist with simulation and mechanical testing to evaluate performance of polymer solutions.
- Prepare application notes, technical data sheets, and case studies.
- Prepare technical documentation (i.e. process guidelines, test reports, training materials, etc.)
- Support the sales team with technical presentations, proposals, and customer visits
- Deliver technical presentations, workshops, and training to customers and internal teams
- Stay current with industry trends, materials, and processing technologies.
- Prepares, manages, and updates formulations for costing purposes
- Creates, manages, and updates BOM’s all products
- Manages the technical side of the North American Pipeline, including pairing of material to application (existing, revised or new formulas), creating new formulas as necessary, arranging sample plans, testing plans, and certification plans
- Assembles testing plans, gathers, and reviews data (performs testing as necessary), and finalizes automotive approval packages for submission to GM, Stellantis, Ford, Mercedes, Audi/Volkswagen, and other major OEM specifications.
- Works in concernt with Process Engineer to manage trial and qualification of new products, raw materials, and processes, documenting newly established process parameters, and reporting these details to plant staff to facilitate efficient ramp-up from trial to production release. Works hand in hand with process engineering to ensure production process are optimized and maintained
- Works in concert with Quality Manager to develop annual Lab/R&D Capex Budget
Quality
- Able to perform all lab testing and molding duties; occasionally providing lab coverage when necessary.
- Collaborates with Quality Manager, ensuring optimal lab operations and workflow.
- Functions as an expert resource for Lab and Quality Team to assist with troubleshooting existing product issues, testing problems, and other technical details.
- Assists with maintenance and calibration lab equipment and instruments when necessary.
- Ensures compliance with industry regulations (e.g., OSHA, ISO, etc.).
Ensure excellence, continuous improvement and innovation
- Heavily involved in usage and reduction of 2nd choice inventory.
- Identifies potential improvements (process, personnel, and equipment) to ensure consistent, dependable, and sustainable results.
- Communicates with Supervisor to address any need for improvement.
- Actively participates in daily review meetings and other work-related meetings
- Actively supports a highly positive and motivated team environment focused on education, growth, proactiveness, and cross -functional problem-solving approaches. Willing to step in and assist wherever possible for the betterment of the team.
Ensure high standard of work quality and individual performance
- Takes accountability for job performance and seeks opportunities to learn, gain experience, and develop skills.
- Understands and adheres to Attendance Policy, reporting to work punctually, minimal unplanned/unscheduled absences and early departures.
- Sets a standard of leadership that others would seek to follow
- Promotes a climate in which people constantly focus on innovation
- Respectfully communicates and actively listens, promoting team environment.
- Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelors in Polymer Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related discipline
- 5 years minimum experience in polymer product research and development
- 5 years minimum experience developing formulas in PA6 and PA66 compunds - experience with polyesters, PPS, urethanes, and PPAs is a plus
- Strong thermoplastics background is required
- Project management experience is required
- Excellent oral and written communication, interpseronal, probelm solving, and analytical skills are required
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Power Point and Excel)
Benefits
- Company matched 401k
- PTO and paid holidays
- Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other supplemental insurance options
- local gym membership
At DOMO Engineering Plastics US, we we believe diversity inspires innovation and we aspire to empower people and celebrate differences. We provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.