Senior Product Development Engineer

About Us

At Shurtape Technologies, we are a leading manufacturer and marketer of adhesive tape, creating innovative solutions for a variety of industries. With facilities worldwide, including in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Mexico, and China, we offer well-known brands like Duck®, FrogTape®, Painter’s Mate®, Shurtape®, T-Rex®, Kip®, and Pro Tapes®.

We encourage curiosity and creativity, working together to solve challenges and innovate. Our commitment to health, safety, and environmental responsibility drives us to make a positive impact on our communities and the world. We value your contributions, growth, and the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.

Beyond tapes, we are committed to social and environmental responsibility, ensuring our manufacturing processes protect the communities in which we operate.

About the Role

The Senior Product Development Engineer will collaborate with New Product Development (NPD) teams to study the structure and properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives and how manufacturing processes affect product performance. This role aims to develop critical information for the design, development, and scale-up of PSA tapes and related products.

As a source of product and process technology knowledge, you will work with Marketing and Manufacturing to support core business needs, including complaint resolutions, Voice-of-the-Customer activities, and cost-reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a high standard of safety performance, including safe handling, storage, and disposal of materials in accordance with environmental regulations.
• Design pressure-sensitive adhesive, back size/release, and barrier formulations and coating methods with NPD teams.
• Conduct research into the structure, properties, and performance of pressure-sensitive adhesives and their interaction with additives, tape constructions, and substrates to improve product design.
• Manage new product development and research projects, including establishing goals, objectives, and execution plans using DOE methods; set specifications for product performance, processing parameters, and raw materials; and document project results in technical reports.
• Support research with strong analysis of patent and research literature.
• Contribute to the development of intellectual property aligned with business and product innovation strategies.
• Maintain awareness of external product and process technology developments, including competitor advancements, through networks (academia, suppliers, customers, research institutes), literature, and technical meetings, and incorporate findings into new product design.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science/Engineering, or Materials Science/Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 10–15 years of experience.
• Strong background in applied polymer science, including physical, chemical, material, and rheological characterization of polymers; interpretation of GPC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, SEM, and DMA data/graphs.
• Experience with PSA adhesives, polymeric coatings, and UV/E-beam curing technology.
• Knowledge of polymer melt processing methods, including experience with rubber, polyolefins, acrylic processing, adhesive formulations, and design/compounding of multi-component blend formulations.
• Experience leading new technology development teams is a plus.
• Working knowledge of statistics, including Design of Experiments (DOE).

Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively in a team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to business, technical, and operating groups.
• Ability to adapt quickly to a changing environment and manage multiple projects with strong time management, prioritization, and a sense of urgency.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to evaluate options and converge on solutions quickly.
• Passion for innovation and a high degree of curiosity.

Work Environment

Our office is designed to foster collaboration in an open, creative space where teamwork and shared conversations drive the best ideas. We provide a comfortable, well-equipped workspace and encourage team-building activities and social events. Our culture values innovation, inclusivity, and a positive attitude, with work-life balance as a priority.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, and work in front of a laptop or PC workstation for extended periods.
• Some light lifting may be required.
• Manual dexterity for completion of technical tasks.