Job description

Our Client, seeks a Senior Research and Development Engineer/Scientist to join our global R&D group. We are looking for a highly motivated professional with demonstrated capabilities and strong communication skills. This position is located in Spartanburg, SC.

The R&D Engineer/Scientist will be responsible for new product development, scale-up from laboratory benchtop to pilot quantities toward preparation for transfer to full production. This will be accomplished in the SPT R&D pilot facilities in support of strategic and overall objectives. The R&D Engineer/Scientist position is expected to cross-functionally lead technical programs and implement & drive efficient pilot plant process improvements.

Responsibilities / Job Requirements

• Ensure efficient experimental designs, execution and analysis to enable accelerated learning under the direction of the Global Head of R&D and other leaders within the product management team
• Manage SPT Pilot Line Technicians and assets, including mechanical and electrical process control troubleshooting, to scale polymer products from bench-scale research reactions (~ 1 kg) to market seeding and development quantities (~ 200 kg)
• Interact with polymer design technical personnel as well as Customers to develop new and/or modify existing products to rapidly progress from concept to final design by leveraging chemistry and process fundamentals while ensuring efficient and robust technology scale-up arrive at optimal solutions to critical functional requirements
• Leverages statistical and simulation/modeling tools to ensure efficient experimental approaches and analysis to accelerate learning
• Identify necessary improvements to pilot plant equipment & processes and lead capital expenditure projects along with establishing timelines for completion toward product development scale-up initiatives
• Communicate with equipment vendors and IVL contractors to efficiently execute pilot plant trials and asset improvements
• Transfer optimized pilot-scale manufacturing protocols to production staff to ensure successful commercialization
• Support knowledge capture and organizational knowledge growth via effective data summaries, reports and presentations
• Inspires and motivates all members of the R&D team to contribute to continuous improvement
• Follows all policies of Corporate and Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) by consistently performing high quality work while minimizing waste generation and risk to self, personnel and assets

Education/Skills/ Experience

Education and Technical

• Ph.D. (5+ years) / M.S. (10+ years) / B.S. (15+ years) in chemical engineering, organic or polymer chemistry, preferably with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) experience in manufacturing facilities
• Demonstrated proficiency in product scale-up from laboratory bench to commercial scale, including experience working with, including monitoring, high temperature and high viscosity reaction systems. Familiarity in applying mechanical engineering fundamentals, with facility in viscous polymer melt handling preferred.
• Working knowledge of condensation polymerization and physical chemistry (reaction kinetics, thermodynamics) fundamentals, including a variety of analytical techniques for polymer characterization; preferred examples include rheology, DSC, GC/LC, GPC, NMR
• Commitment to safety, ability to recognize and mitigate chemical and physical hazards of batch/pilot line reactions

Creativity and Process

• A hands-on Engineer/Scientist who leads by example, enabling efficient process development and product commercialization, effectively managing work and work schedules when appropriate to support overall program objectives
• A record of innovative approaches, insights and solutions with the ability to rapidly learn and adapt to latest insights and demands.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Effective collaboration across functions and geographies
• Project Management experience is a plus
• Six Sigma Certification is a plus