Research Engineer/Performance Polymer Solutions (PPS)

Research Engineer/Performance Polymer Solutions – PPS R&D

Saint-Gobain Research India is looking for a Research Engineer to join our growing team. Saint-Gobain is a world leader in developing innovative, high-performance solutions through our exceptional experience in materials science and processing. The candidate will take project objectives and transform them into actionable tasks including research of technologies, design and execution of experimentation, analysis of results, and generation of IP and technical reports. This position will have a focus on research and development in all aspects of the group’s technical area with specific focus on applications where fluoropolymers, high performance polymers are used. The candidate is expected to collaborate effectively with other R&D groups and engineering colleagues within manufacturing Saint-Gobain locations, application engineers and external customers. In addition to the candidate’s primary projects, the candidate will be expected to support projects led by others.

We are seeking an experienced Polymer Processing Engineer to join our Research & Development team. In this role, you will lead and contribute to the development of next-generation thermoplastic products and processes, with a particular focus on injection molding, mold design, and the fundamental understanding of process-induced defects. You will apply deep expertise in thermoplastic materials science — spanning chemistry, processing, microstructure, and property relationships — to solve complex engineering challenges and drive innovation from concept through scale-up.

Key Responsibilities

• Extensively utilizes research and/or project experiences, broad expertise of materials, processes, techniques, and products to improve on or develop products, increase performance, or reduce costs, to maximize production and/or to support fundamental research within a major product or technology area.
• Stays aware of new technology applications and competitive uses of same in work with materials, products and processes, and in development of new knowledge.
• Demonstrates open and collaborative approach in all areas of responsibility.
• Interacts across a broad range of levels, expertise, and geographic regions.
• Seeks out others to enhance and streamline development and decision making.
• Establishes and shifts priorities as needed to meet commitments and project deliverables.
• Able to communicate technically with internal competencies and university collaborators and utilize knowledge to advance projects and identify productive synergies.
• Continuously and reliably carries projects through to completion.
• Able to communicate and use business language in an industrial environment and coordinate with plant operations.
• Understands Gate Process methodology/ideology and utilizes and incorporates it in research projects
• Coordinate, direct and lead comprehensive Process Failure Mode Affect Analysis (PFMEA) review, and maintenance for validated and new parts.
• Respect and promote a safe work environment and abide by Saint-Gobain safety, health and environment policies and identify opportunities for improving safety in the workplace.
  
  

Process Development & Optimization

• Design, develop, and optimize thermoplastic formulation & processing methods with primary focus on injection molding and secondary expertise across extrusion, blow molding, and emerging processing technologies.
• Define and optimize critical process parameters (melt temperature, injection speed, pack/hold pressure, cooling rate, shear rate) to achieve target part quality and performance.
• Lead process DOE (Design of Experiments) studies to characterize process windows, establish robust processing conditions, and identify key formulation-process-property relationships.
• Develop and validate novel processing methods and emerging technologies as part of the R&D roadmap.
  
  

Mold Design

• Collaborate with tooling teams and external vendors on mold and die design, including gate design, runner systems, venting, cooling circuit optimization, and hot runner integration.
• Evaluate and qualify new tooling and recommend design improvements based on processing trials and defect analysis.
  
  

Defect Analysis & Root Cause Investigation

• Lead systematic root cause analysis of process-induced defects including sink marks, warpage, short shots, flash, knit lines, voids, delamination, surface defects, and dimensional non-conformance.
• Establish linkages between process parameters, thermal history, shear-induced effects, and resulting microstructure and mechanical performance.
• Develop and implement corrective action plans to eliminate defects and improve process robustness in both development and production environments.
  
  

Materials Science & Characterization

• Apply fundamental knowledge of thermoplastic chemistry-process-structure-property relationships to guide material selection, formulation inputs, and processing strategy.
• Interpret characterization data (DSC, rheology, DMA, TGA, microscopy, tensile/impact testing) and correlate with processing outcomes and end-use performance.
• Work closely with materials scientists and compounders to evaluate new resin formulations, additives, and polymer blends.
  
  

R&D Collaboration & Documentation

• Contribute to multi-disciplinary R&D projects, interfacing with materials science, product design, quality, and manufacturing engineering teams.
• Author technical reports, experimental protocols, process specifications, and patent disclosures as required.
• Present findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and, where applicable, external customers or partners.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians in processing fundamentals and laboratory best practices.
  
  

Qualifications

• M.S. in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience; OR
• Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a minimum of 2 years of relevant industry or post-doctoral experience.
  
  

Required Technical Expertise

• Core: Thermoplastic Processing Technologies
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in injection molding (process setup, optimization, troubleshooting) is required.
• Working knowledge of extrusion, blow molding, and at least one novel/emerging processing method (e.g., microcellular foaming, over-molding, in-mold labeling, additive manufacturing of thermoplastics, reactive processing).
• Specialization: Mold Design
• Strong understanding of mold design principles: gating, runner design, venting, cooling circuits, and shrinkage/warpage compensation.
• Specialization: Defect Diagnostics
• Proven track record of root cause analysis linking process parameters to specific defect types in injection-molded or extruded parts.
• Proficiency in applying systematic problem-solving methodologies (8D, Fishbone, FMEA) to process-related quality issues.
• Specialization: Materials Fundamentals
• Strong grounding in thermoplastic polymer chemistry: polymerization, chain architecture, molecular weight effects, and crystallinity.
• Deep understanding of processing-microstructure-property relationships for engineering thermoplastics (e.g., PFA, PE, PP, PA, POM, PEEK, TPEs, and fiber-reinforced grades).
• Hands-on experience with polymer characterization techniques: rheology (capillary & rotational), DSC, TGA, DMA, optical and electron microscopy.
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience with multi-component injection molding processes (insert molding, 2K/2-shot, gas-assist).
• Familiarity with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, or medical device quality systems (ISO 13485) as applicable to the industry context.
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Proficiency in statistical tools: Minitab, JMP, or equivalent for DOE, SPC, and regression analysis.
• Publication record or patent portfolio in polymer processing.
• Experience with CAD software (CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent) for part and tool review is a plus.
  
  

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to formulate hypotheses and design experiments to test them rigorously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-specialist audiences.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced, cross-functional R&D environment.
• Self-directed with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Intellectual curiosity and drive to stay current with developments in polymer science, processing technology, and industry trends.