Materials Development Engineer

About The Role

Fulfills a key role in the management and execution of material related research and development projects by championing efforts to develop new enhanced cable and connectivity product materials.

Responsibilities

• Support new formulation ideation and design activities aimed at developing materials suitable for use in cables and connectivity produced at our manufacturing sites globally.
• Undertake material development projects involving multi-site activities from supplier engagement to formulation test, through to certification and release.
• Evaluate suitability of commercially available materials for use in our global product portfolio.
• Support cable and connectivity new product development projects.
• Support Supply Chain by delivering material cost savings opportunities.
• Witness external fire test activities, analyze/trend relevant test data and understand related fire legislation.
• Support the needs of internal and external customers for materials compliance, third party testing, certifications and material characterization.
• Reduce supply chain risk by providing supplier competition, resolving obsolete materials, and mitigating price increases.
• Support industry studies and competitive analyses to ensure Leviton Network Solution products remain at a competitive level.
• Establish and maintain supplier relationships, keep up to date on the material trends and research novel materials for future cable and connectivity applications.
• Assist in carbon footprint calculations, Life Cycle Assessments, Environmental Product Declarations, and sustainability projects.
• Prepare periodic project and activity reports indicating progress of projects relative to plan.
• Seek involvement in local, national and international working groups/standard committees to help influence improvements within the industry.

Qualifications

Skills - Technical

• Knowledge of polymer and plastic materials, including fundamental chemistry, analysis, processing and performance.
• Experience in material formulation, test and measurement methodologies.
• Knowledge of (experience in a plus) plastic extrusion processes, analysis tools and process characterization using industry models or statistical methods.
• Knowledge of relevant industry standards, test methods and best practices, including fire tests.
• Experience in statistical principles, product development processes, verification, and validation techniques.
• Capable of designing and implementing test procedures to verify product requirements and quality goals.

Skills - Behavioral

• Communication - Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with coworkers, along with internal and external customers and key stakeholders
• Problem-Solver - Strong problem-solving skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions
• Teamwork - Ability to work well in a team environment that fosters collaboration and cooperation
• Creativity - Innovative in development of new ideas and approaches for engineering challenges
• Analytical Skills - Analyze data to make informed decisions
• Critical Thinking - Ability to think critically and make informed decisions to optimize performance

Key skills/competency

• Polymer Chemistry
• Material Formulation
• Plastic Extrusion
• Fire Testing
• Statistical Analysis
• Product Development
• Supplier Management
• Sustainability
• R&D Management
• Material Characterization