Position Summary

The Product Development Engineer/Scientist III will lead R&D projects from ideation through commercialization by effective collaboration with R&D colleagues, commercial team members, plant personnel, external customers, and suppliers. This position will plan and conduct experiments, analyze data, and present findings in written and oral formats. Innovation will be a focal point of this role with specific emphasis on growing markets associated with roll label applications, leading quality improvement efforts, and driving cost reduction projects by way of researching and developing novel pressure sensitive adhesive, film technologies as well as test methods. The ideal candidate combines technical product development expertise with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence. You will independently plan and lead complex projects, design experiments, and develop new test methods to meet customer needs and drive quality improvement efforts.

Experience

• Required Experience:
  • Education: STEM Degree
  • Years in a similar role: 5+ years of experience in a similar industry and/or product development
  • Program Experience: R&D, Project Management, six sigma / continuous improvement methodology, exceptional problem solving and analytical skills
  • Industry Experience: Coatings, adhesives, film or polymer industry experience
• Preferred Experience:
  • Degree Type: Bachelor of Science (engineering discipline preferred)
  • Certifications: Design for Six Sigma
  • Industry Experience Pressure sensitive adhesives, SBS/SIS rubber, acrylic polymers, paper, and/or polymeric films

Duties & Responsibilities

• Project Management: Lead stage gate, customer innovation, quality improvement and cost savings projects ensuring good project planning and communication with key stakeholders. Plan and support trials to develop new products. Manage projects and timelines within a defined process. Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver outcomes on-time and within budget. Represents the New Product Development Team and Spartanburg site on all Customer Custom Product opportunity review meetings and leads all Spartanburg custom part development efforts.
• Technical Skills: Understanding of polymer materials (polymer chemistry, formulation, processing, etc.) and able to apply polymer structure-property relationships to new material/ product/ process development. Experience in polymer characterization and material property testing. Preferred - Experience and knowledge of pressure sensitive adhesive materials and technology including liner and release properties, acrylic and hotmelt chemistries related to solvent, emulsion, UV, rubber and various film and coating technologies.
• Continuous Improvement: Independently plan and lead complex projects, focusing on quality improvement, product development, and manufacturing challenges. Optimize processes to improve efficiency, quality, and cost. Troubleshoot and conduct root cause analysis of product and production issues.
• Experimental Design: Independently design experiments and methods to develop new materials, create new knowledge, verify existing test methods, and implement new test methods.
• Data Analysis: Analyze lab and field trial data, report experimental results, draw conclusions from data gathered, make recommendations and coordinate additional testing and trials. Present results and conclusions to internal and external customers.
• Statistical Analysis: Utilize DOE and statistical software for data analysis and experiment design.

• Equipment Utilization: Perform physical property and analytical lab testing as needed with support from laboratory technicians and scientists. Expertise in the use of complex analytical lab equipment (FTIR, rheometry, DSC) preferred.

• Cross-functional Support: Assist operations and quality teams as issues arise, providing expertise in R&D, lab testing, and other technical areas. Support teams in product failure analysis.

• Innovation Leadership:Contribute expertise and generate new intellectual property in the development of new adhesives and products. Lead technology exploration with strategic partners, vendors, universities, trade shows and conferences, patent landscaping, etc. Benchmark competitor trends, products, and IP to identify material performance gaps and opportunities.

Scope:

• Management Responsibilities Level: Mentor / Individual Contributor - Supervises: 0
• Contacts:
  • Internal: R&D, Quality, Operations, Marketing, Sales
  • External: Customers, Suppliers, Industry events
• Physical Requirements:
  • Works in an office, lab and manufacturing environment. Ability to spend substantial time on the production floor when necessary.
  • Lift up to 50 lbs
  • Prescribed personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory in all laboratory and manufacturing areas.
• Work Authorization: Legal authorization to work in the US is required.
• Relocation Eligibility: Eligible for Relocation
• Travel: 10-20%. Limited travel to customers and manufacturing sites.

Company Overview:

• For over 60 years, Mactac has been a leader in the pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) industry, offering a full range of adhesive solutions, including acrylic, rubber, hot melt, solvent, emulsion, and UV technologies. As a vertically integrated company with six specialized divisions, we serve diverse markets such as label printing, packaging, retail display, automotive, medical devices, and more. Built on a foundation of innovation, integrity, and reliability, Mactac delivers world-class technology and customer service to provide the best solutions for your adhesive needs.

Disclaimers:

• The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
• It is the policy of Mactac that all employees are employed at the will of Mactac for an indefinite period and are subject to termination at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice. At the same time, employees may terminate their employment at any time and for any reason.
• Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or contract.

We will not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not send agency resumes to our website or Mactac and affiliated employees.