Hands-on Materials Science Engineer

Job Title: Materials Science Engineer

Overview

Rex-Cut Abrasives, a 100% Employee-Owned Company, and leading manufacturer of abrasive grinding solutions, is seeking a practical, hands-on Materials Science Engineer to support the development, testing, and production of non-woven and cotton fiber abrasive materials. In this role, you will work directly on the manufacturing floor as well as in the lab to improve material performance, support product innovation, and strengthen manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate is curious, problem-solving oriented, and comfortable moving between analytical work and hands-on experimentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Material Development & Evaluation
• Develop, test, and characterize non-woven and cotton fiber abrasive materials.
• Conduct mechanical, thermal, and chemical analyses to understand material properties and performance.
• Recommend material formulations, process changes, and design improvements.
• Process Support & Optimization
• Work directly with production teams to troubleshoot material-related issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Optimize processing parameters for coating, laminating, dyeing, or finishing operations.
• Support scale-up of new materials from lab trials to full manufacturing runs.
• Quality & Compliance
• Develop and refine material specifications, test methods, and quality standards.
• Review material nonconformities and lead root-cause investigations.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and relevant industry regulations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with R&D, production, quality, and engineering teams to execute material trials and improvement projects.
• Provide technical guidance regarding materials selection and processing capabilities.
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Analyze test data and prepare clear reports, technical summaries, and recommendations.
• Maintain documentation on material performance, trial conditions, and process adjustments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Materials Science, Textile Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in a hands-on manufacturing environment, preferably in textiles, polymers, or composites.
• Strong understanding of textile materials, fiber science, polymers, coatings, or material testing methodologies.
• Ability to run lab equipment and conduct structured experiments.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and willingness to spend substantial time on the manufacturing floor.
• Strong communication and technical documentation skills.
• Experience with statistical analysis or DOE (Design of Experiments) is a plus.

Preferred Attributes

• Comfortable working in both lab and production settings.
• Curious, proactive, and eager to learn new materials and processes.
• Able to independently drive projects from concept to implementation.
• Team-oriented with strong collaboration skills.