Applications Development Engineer, Plastic Additives

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and onFacebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

Applications Development Engineer, Plastic Additives

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Applications Development Engineer, Plastic Additives serves as a plastic applications expert, evaluating new and existing additive technologies from front-end evaluation through full commercialization. This individual contributor role translates business and technical problems into well-designed experiments, analyzes results with statistical rigor, and communicates recommendations to project teams, commercial colleagues, and leadership, while supporting existing product lines and operations and acting as a trusted technical partner to product line and market managers.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a plastic applications expert, evaluating new and existing additive technologies from the front-end evaluation stage through full commercialization

• Study how additive performance interacts with other co-additives, resin characteristics, and processing conditions

• Formulate product and processing solutions that balance technical, commercial, and regulatory criteria

• Translate business and technical problem statements into testable hypotheses and experimental plans

• Analyze results with statistical rigor to draw well-supported conclusions and recommendations

• Communicate findings and recommendations to project teams, commercial colleagues, and leadership through presentations, technical reports, and technical toolboxes

• Document work systematically in technical knowledge systems; contribute to invention records and patent filings while protecting confidential information

• Plan and execute work packages independently within a larger development project

• Provide technical guidance to technicians in the plastics prototype and applications labs; troubleshoot process and equipment issues during studies

• Support existing product lines and operations through raw-material qualifications, toller support, and quality investigations

• Maintain subject-matter expertise in one or more processing operations or additive technologies, and serve as a trusted technical partner to product line and market managers

• Actively participate in the lab safety process, maintain shared lab spaces, and lead continuous improvement of equipment and methods

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BS or higher in Chemical, Mechanical, or Plastics Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Packaging Science, or another relevant engineering or science discipline

• Experience in the resin or plastic processing industry (or related industry), including hands-on experience in at least one major plastic processing operation: 7+ years with a BS, 5+ years with an MS or PhD

• Sound technical reasoning and judgment, applying engineering fundamentals to understand and troubleshoot processes

• Demonstrated ability to design robust experiments using statistical analysis of complex data sets

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Demonstrated ownership, initiative, and attention to detail in planning and delivering work as an individual contributor

• Ability to collaborate effectively with both cross-functional, global teams and onsite lab technicians

• Learning agility, curiosity, and willingness to adopt new technologies and digital tools

• Demonstrated commitment to safe work practices

• Ability to travel as needed, up to a maximum of 20%

The successful candidate will have strengths in the following:

• Degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Plastics Engineering

• Experience in compounding, injection molding, blown film, thermoforming, and/or extrusion (e.g., sheet or cast)

• Experience with polymer additive performance and formulation

• Proficiency with design of experiments (DOE) and JMP statistical software

• Familiarity with solids feeding and handling, powder mixing, and material property testing

• Experience with stage-gate processes including new product development, scale-up, plant trials, or customer trials

• Experience supporting manufacturing operations or continuous improvement projects; business acumen

• Invention disclosures or patents; formal project management training; prior subject-matter-expert role

• Experience with digital or AI-enabled research tools

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [email protected].