Lead Materials Process Engineer [AQ-12815]

About the Role

Join a pioneering company at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to shaping the future of consumer products through advanced materials and cutting-edge manufacturing. This role is pivotal in driving the commercialization and manufacturing readiness of advanced material technologies, translating scientific breakthroughs into scalable production. Your expertise will directly impact the performance, quality, and sustainability of future products.

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.

The Impact You’ll Make

• Materials and processes are validated, repeatable, and ready for commercial production.
• Manufacturing partners have clear technical requirements and process controls.
• Data-driven improvements reduce variation and increase product reliability.
• Cross-functional teams are aligned on technical decisions and commercialization milestones.
• Innovative materials successfully transition from development into scalable manufacturing.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Work Environment

You will thrive in a collaborative environment that fosters innovation. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of materials science, engineering, and manufacturing innovation, engaging with global teams to bring cutting-edge products to market.

Benefits

Eligible talent get access to amazing benefits including:

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