Raw Materials Engineer

When Alfred Fain founded a small Rhode Island tire store in 1924, no one could have predicted how Teknor Apex would become an international custom compounder sought out by companies around the world. After a nearly hundred-year journey that’s carried us through acquisitions and expansion, we now have nine U.S. locations, as well as operations in Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and China. Throughout this global expansion Teknor has remained a privately held company, and today Fain’s grandson sits at the helm, maintaining the family’s tradition of fostering deep employee and customer relationships. These relationships are what allow us—together—to deliver customized compound solutions and help our customers create better products.

About Teknor Apex

Teknor Apex is a sought-after global provider of compounding solutions. Our unbridled passion for technology combined with our customer-centric approach allows us to deliver customized solutions worldwide. We take pride in our core values that focus on driving innovation, partnership, sustainability, and integrity. Teknor Apex operates worldwide with multiple work sites, including ten North American locations, three in Europe, and two in Asia. We provide an atmosphere that stimulates and develops our global workforce to bring together the best ideas and talent across all value chains.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage assigned raw material categories, ensuring optimal performance, cost, and sustainability.
• Lead the evaluation, approval, and implementation of new or replacement raw materials across global compounding businesses.
• Establish and maintain robust protocols for raw material evaluations, specifications, and manufacturing implementation.
• Champion safety, cost engineering, and sustainability, leveraging digital tools and AI wherever possible.
• Plan and execute laboratory testing, analyze data, and summarize findings for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Coordinate material evaluations globally, ensuring alignment across chemistries and business units.
• Ensure compliance with all global regulatory, environmental, and testing standards.
• Manage deactivation of raw materials and act as a key consultant to Production on raw material performance and suitability.
• Review Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and assess potential risks or improvements from alternative materials.
• Provide timely communication to leadership on material status, risks, and implementation timelines.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional projects, collaborating with R&D, Procurement, Manufacturing, and EHS teams.
• Develop strong supplier relationships, negotiating solutions that enhance quality, cost, and sustainability outcomes.
• Stay current on industry trends, technologies, and regulatory shifts impacting raw material selection and innovation.
• Maintain and update raw material specifications, including packaging and documentation requirements.
• Perform as backup for other materials group members and take on additional duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or related field.
• Equivalent experience (4-6 years) in a related technical role will be considered.
• Familiarity with mechanical and physical testing methods and laboratory data analysis.
• Good understanding of polymer structure-property-processing relationships and how raw material selection influences formulation performance, manufacturability, and end-use properties.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to interpret complex technical data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; skilled at working in multidisciplinary and cross-regional teams.
• Proven project management and organizational abilities managing multiple initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, concise technical reports.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred (training available if needed).
• Experience with digital and AI-driven material management tools a plus.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance available.
• Competitive compensation and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k, tuition assistance).
• Opportunities for professional growth and Six Sigma training.
• A collaborative environment that values innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.