Plastic Material Engineer

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company that provides solutions for engineering, technology, and product development projects. For decades, we’ve been helping our clients develop products that are changing the world, whether that’s by shaping the future of space exploration, saving lives with medical devices that set a new standard of care, or creating the fully autonomous electric taxi of tomorrow. Our team of more than 600 people works across industries including aerospace, medical devices and life sciences, unmanned systems and robotics, automotive OEM and tier 1 suppliers, commercial vehicle, electric vehicles, rail, and more. Our offices across the US have different industry focuses and engage with our clients in different ways, ranging from working on-site at client facilities to performing product development at our delivery centers.
 
ALTEN Group, our parent company, has been a leader in engineering and information technology for more than 30 years. ALTEN Group operates in 30 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and employs more than 36,000 people, 88% of whom are engineers. The company covers the whole development cycle and offers a choice of service levels, from technology consulting to complete project outsourcing.
 
When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you join a group of people passionate about collaborating to solve some of the world’s most technical engineering challenges. Our success is tied to taking care of our employees by building relationships and providing opportunities for mentorship and career growth. We offer comprehensive benefits for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer matching; paid time off (PTO); paid parental leave; and mentorship to help you take your career to the next level. You don’t have to take our word for it that we are a great place to work—we were named on the 2023 Top Workplaces list thanks to feedback from our proud employees.

We are seeking a skilled and driven Plastic Material Engineer with a solid automotive background to join our high-performing vehicle engineering team. The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in polymer selection, development, and processing for automotive components. This role requires both conceptual knowledge of plastics and a hands-on understanding of fabrication processes from concept to product launch.

Responsibilities;

• Contribute to a collaborative vehicle engineering team with specialized knowledge in plastics, from initial concept through production launch.

• Partner with design engineers and suppliers to develop parts that meet performance, efficiency, and cost targets.

• Derive material requirements from part specifications and perform thorough assessments to select suitable plastic grades.

• Apply in-depth knowledge of polymer structure-property relationships to troubleshoot issues and enhance performance.

• Develop and implement rigorous testing methods and material specifications to ensure quality and durability.

• Act as a liaison between internal materials teams and external suppliers, including conducting on-site visits as needed.

• Support cross-functional initiatives and provide technical guidance throughout the product lifecycle.

Qualifications;

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in selecting and developing plastic and composite materials.

• Proven experience in automotive development from concept to full production.

• Deep knowledge of injection-molded plastics and decorative techniques involving synthetic leather, suede, wood, and metal.

• Strong experience in selecting plastic grades for various automotive applications.

• Hands-on experience optimizing plastic injection molding processes.

Preferred:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Experience with additional plastic processing techniques such as blow molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, over-molding, compression molding, and slush molding.

• Familiarity with secondary processes like joining, painting, plating, and press/vacuum lamination.

• Experience in developing test methods and conducting material characterization.

Salary Range: $100,000-109,000

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

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