Senior Plastics Engineer

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company that provides solutions for engineering, technology, and product development projects. For decades, we've been helping our clients develop products that are changing the world, whether that's by shaping the future of space exploration, saving lives with medical devices that set a new standard of care, or creating the fully autonomous electric taxi of tomorrow. Our team of more than 600 people works across industries including aerospace, medical devices and life sciences, unmanned systems and robotics, automotive OEM and tier 1 suppliers, commercial vehicle, electric vehicles, rail, and more. Our offices across the US have different industry focuses and engage with our clients in different ways, ranging from working on-site at client facilities to performing product development at our delivery centers. ALTEN Group, our parent company, has been a leader in engineering and information technology for more than 30 years. ALTEN Group operates in 30 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and employs more than 36,000 people, 88% of whom are engineers. The company covers the whole development cycle and offers a choice of service levels, from technology consulting to complete project outsourcing. When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you join a group of people passionate about collaborating to solve some of the world's most technical engineering challenges. Our success is tied to taking care of our employees by building relationships and providing opportunities for mentorship and career growth. We offer comprehensive benefits for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer matching; paid time off (PTO); paid parental leave; and mentorship to help you take your career to the next level. You don't have to take our word for it that we are a great place to work-we were named on the 2023 Top Workplaces list thanks to feedback from our proud employees.This position involves contributing to a high-performance vehicle engineering team with a focus on plastics and polymer materials. The role requires managing polymer-related aspects throughout the product development cycle, from concept to launch, and collaborating with design engineers and suppliers to optimize part functionality, efficiency, and cost. Key responsibilities include material selection, process troubleshooting, and developing test methods. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in plastics and composites, particularly in the automotive sector, along with a deep understanding of injection molding and other plastic manufacturing processes. Strong communication skills and occasional travel are required.Position Responsibilities:Contribute significantly to a high-performing vehicle engineering team by offering expertise in plastics and managing polymer-related aspects from concept to product launch.Collaborate with design engineers and suppliers during the product development process, ensuring parts are optimized for function, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.Derive material requirements based on part specifications and conduct a thorough assessment of plastic grades for material selection.Utilize a deep understanding of polymers, including their structure-property relationships, to resolve issues with parts and processes.Develop and implement testing methods and material specifications to ensure quality and performance.Support cross-functional teams and serve as a key point of contact between the material team and suppliers, including conducting on-site supplier visits when necessary.Essential Experience:A Master's degree in polymer engineering, material science, or a related field.5+ years of experience (8+ for Technical Specialist level) in selecting and developing plastics and composite materials.Proven background in automotive development, ideally from concept to full product realization.Strong knowledge of injection-molded materials and luxury in-mold decoration techniques using synthetic leather, suede, wood, and metal.Demonstrated experience in selecting appropriate plastic grades for various applications.Hands-on experience in optimizing the plastic injection molding process.Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%, as required.Preferred Experience:Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Experience with additional plastic manufacturing processes such as blow molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, over-molding, compression molding, and slush molding.Familiarity with secondary processes, including joining, painting, plating, and press/vacuum lamination.Experience in developing and implementing test methods and conducting material characterization.Salary Range: $100,000-$135,000The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.