We are seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to support the design, development, and commercialization of innovative technical nonwoven products within a fast-paced manufacturing and product development environment. This role will play a key part in driving new product innovation, evaluating new material applications, supporting raw material qualification initiatives, and contributing to the company’s long-term growth strategy.

The ideal candidate will possess strong technical expertise within nonwovens, fibers, polymers, textiles, or related engineered materials industries and have experience managing product development activities from concept through implementation. This individual will collaborate closely with Operations, Production, Quality, Procurement, and Sales teams to successfully develop and launch new products and technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the design and development of new technical nonwoven products and material solutions.
• Plan, coordinate, document, and execute product development projects in collaboration with cross-functional departments.
• Evaluate new raw materials, product applications, and process technologies to support innovation and product performance improvements.
• Conduct product trials, laboratory testing, and process evaluations related to new product development activities.
• Document experimental results, technical findings, and development activities.
• Assist with intellectual property documentation and patent-related activities as needed.
• Monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure successful project execution.
• Support raw material qualification efforts and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a technical resource for Production and Operations teams on chemistry, materials, and process-related matters.
• Provide technical support to Sales and Procurement teams regarding product capabilities, material selection, and customer applications.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing teams to support product scale-up, process optimization, and commercialization efforts.
• Maintain compliance with internal quality, safety, and documentation standards.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Textile Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry, or related technical field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in R&D, product development, or technical engineering within nonwovens, textiles, polymers, fibers, or related manufacturing industries.
• Experience within technical nonwovens or engineered materials strongly preferred.

Preferred experience with:

• Technical nonwovens
• Fibers and polymers
• Product development and commercialization
• Material testing and evaluation
• Process optimization
• Raw material qualification
• Manufacturing support
• Laboratory testing and documentation
• Technical project management

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent technical documentation and reporting skills
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously
• Effective cross-functional communication and collaboration skills
• Self-motivated with strong initiative and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams