Plastics/Polymer Engineering Co-Op- Penn State Behrend

About the role

Samtec, Inc., founded in 1976, is a privately held, $1 billion global manufacturer of electronic interconnect solutions, including high‑speed board‑to‑board, high‑speed cables, mid‑board and panel optics, precision RF, flexible stacking, and micro/rugged components and cables. The Plastics Engineer position supports the development and maintenance of mold tooling and related processes.

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain new and legacy mold tooling.
• Analyze product and tooling data to identify required solutions.
• Recommend process and tooling changes to improve product quality.
• Coordinate tooling projects with domestic and international suppliers.
• Oversee or conduct R&D trials on plastic molding machines.
• Identify solutions with suppliers to increase productivity and reduce overall costs.
• Lead or participate in product and tooling design reviews.
• Cross‑functionally engage with quality, engineering, manufacturing and other teams to develop products and solutions.
• Adhere to all corporate engineering standards, including documentation and file management.
• Autonomously plan and schedule personal tasks, developing solutions using education, experience, and judgment.

Requirements

• 1–5 years of experience in a similar role or job.
• Self‑starter with strong leadership.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving ability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for internal and external customers.
• Willing to travel locally as needed and up to 10% between other Samtec locations.

Skills

• Proficient in MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Knowledge of steel machining techniques, mold design, and injection mold materials.
• Experience in engineering design software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.).
• Capable of running an R&D injection molding machine.

Qualifications

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in PLET, MET, or a related engineering field.