Senior R&D Engineer

Job Summary:

The Senior R&D Engineer, reporting to the Director of R&D, is expected to be a recognized expert and a key and critical contributor providing strategic technical direction for major projects in Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) formulation, recycling, and exterior products. The individual is the company expert for a key product/process, making major product line extensions or major process changes and improvements. This individual will develop significant new products to provide for long-term business impact and growth.  Identifies and takes initiative to lead continuous improvement efforts.  

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and utilize new to the Company and new to the industry materials and processes, for WPC formulations to support a wide range of building products, including decking and profile products.
• Design and manage experiments for purposes such as generating new product prototypes, improving product performance, reducing scrap and formulation cost, and general problem solving, etc.
• Collaborate with multiple internal departments and external suppliers to set raw material specifications and prescribe inspection methods to ensure conformance.
• Required to present recommendations of technical direction for major projects and programs that impact a key product area and technology advancement.
• Expected to work cross functionally with Operations and other departments to set objectives and deliver solutions as needed.
• Supervise R&D Technicians directly and indirectly lead multi-functional teams.
• Maintain broad-based knowledge of the industry/market for a key product lines or components and is regarded as an expert on trends and technology in that area.
• Required to present program and project proposals with justification to R&D and other senior management.
• Integrate Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement in all projects.
• Work with external suppliers and partners to drive projects to the correct conclusion promptly.

Education Qualifications:

Ph.D. with 3+ years relevant experience, MS with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience, or BS with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. Degrees in Chemistry, Materials Science Engineering, or Chemical Engineering are preferred.

Skills:

• Significant direct experience with formulation and extrusion of polymer systems for outdoor use, preferably for building products.
• Demonstrated experience with the formulation of systems encompassing recycled plastics, weathering packages, and colorant systems.
• Working knowledge of outdoor and accelerated weathering test methods, product requirements, and equipment.
• Familiarity with US and International Building Code requirements, particularly for exterior Residential Building products.
• Competence with public speaking, contributions to technical literature, and Intellectual Property protection via Patents and Patent Applications.
• Strong background in manufacturing systems, data collection, and statistical analysis.
• Demonstrated success in interfacing with internal (Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality) and external (contractors, vendors) customers.
• Excellent mechanical aptitude and understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies.

Other Desired Skills

Engineering Cost Savings, Analytical Skills, Lean Six Sigma, Quality Management Systems, New Product Development Management systems including Stage-Gate, Manufacturing Systems, Production Processes, Extrusion, Problem Solving, Manufacturing Operations. Candidates should be data-driven decision-makers. 

Candidate soft skills:  good multitasking, experienced working well with vendors and contractors. Analytical. Good follow-up. Strong safety mindset.  Works well with all levels of operational staff. 

About Thee Azek Company, Proud to Be Part of James Hardie

The AZEK Company is committed to innovating, inspiring, reinventing, revolutionizing and leading our industry to create a more sustainable future. We offer low-maintenance, beautiful outdoor living products leveraging innovations in material science to offer our customers world-class, environmentally sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood, The AZEK Company is nestled in the same thriving business district that houses other leading corporations such as Google, Dyson, and Glassdoor. The AZEK Company also operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas. CREATING GOODS THAT DO GOOD We wholeheartedly embrace a responsibility to sustainability and seek to always act with purpose. We are committed to pursuing initiatives that positively impact our products, our people and our planet. Like leveraging our R&D strengths to introduce products that increasingly utilize recycled materials and tapping our culture to positively impact employees, customers and communities alike. And, committing to set ambitious targets like using 1 billion pounds of recycled materi...al annually in the manufacturing of our products and reducing the carbon footprint across our value chain in alignment with climate science. Our success is fueled by the ideas and dedication of our team and we are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive workplace where diversity of all kinds is sought out, valued, respected and appreciated. We have an unwavering customer-centric focus. Our responsibility is to understand customer expectations, then surpass them. We are also committed to working with business partners and suppliers whose values and practices mirror our own. At The AZEK Company, we look at the full-circle and we bring things full-circle. Why? Because, we seek to revolutionize outdoor living to create a more sustainable future.

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