Lead Materials Process Engineer

Lead Materials Process Engineer

About the Role

We are seeking a Lead Materials Process Engineer to support the development, commercialization, and manufacturing readiness of advanced material technologies. In this role, you will serve as a technical bridge between materials innovation, process engineering, and global manufacturing teams to ensure new materials and processes can be scaled successfully into production.

You will partner with cross-functional teams including Materials, Product Development, Quality, Innovation, and Manufacturing Engineering, as well as external factory and supplier partners. The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who can translate laboratory insights and manufacturing data into scalable processes, technical standards, and continuous improvements.

This is an on-site role with a hybrid schedule. Occasional evening meetings may be required to collaborate with global teams, and limited international travel may be needed.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development, optimization, and validation of advanced material manufacturing processes from concept through commercialization
• Partner with manufacturing teams and suppliers to improve process capability, scalability, and production readiness
• Analyze material performance data, laboratory testing results, and manufacturing metrics to identify improvement opportunities
• Develop and implement process controls, operating windows, validation plans, and engineering standards
• Apply statistical methods including Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and process capability analysis to reduce variation and improve quality
• Lead root cause investigations related to material performance, process variation, and manufacturing challenges
• Translate technical findings into Design for Manufacturing (DFM) guidelines and scalable production requirements
• Support factory trials, process validation activities, and commercialization efforts with global manufacturing partners
• Create technical documentation including process specifications, control plans, and manufacturing best practices
• Collaborate across Materials, Product Creation, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to drive technical decisions

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 3+ years of experience in materials development, polymer engineering, process engineering, or manufacturing engineering
• Experience working with polymer materials and material characterization
• Experience developing, testing, optimizing, or scaling materials and manufacturing processes
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting technical data and using data-driven approaches to solve problems
• Experience with process improvement methodologies such as SPC, DOE, process capability analysis, or similar techniques
• Ability to work effectively in manufacturing environments and collaborate with factory or supplier partners
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Self-starter who can independently manage projects, prioritize work, and drive results

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with polyurethane (PU) materials, elastomers, foams, coatings, adhesives, or similar polymer systems
• Laboratory testing experience related to material performance, reliability, or validation
• Experience supporting product commercialization, manufacturing scale-up, or new product introduction (NPI)
• Experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles
• Experience working with global manufacturing partners or suppliers
• Familiarity with JMP, Minitab, or comparable statistical analysis software
• Experience in apparel, footwear, sporting goods, consumer products, or other materials-driven industries
• CNC, tooling, or manufacturing process certifications

What Success Looks Like

• Materials and processes are validated, repeatable, and ready for commercial production
• Manufacturing partners have clear technical requirements and process controls
• Data-driven improvements reduce variation and increase product reliability
• Cross-functional teams are aligned on technical decisions and commercialization milestones
• Innovative materials successfully transition from development into scalable manufacturing

Work Environment

• On-site position with a hybrid schedule
• Collaboration with global teams across multiple time zones
• Limited international travel may be required
• Opportunity to work at the intersection of materials science, engineering, and manufacturing innovation

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