We are seeking a Senior Product Developer who will be responsible for leading development activities associated not only with new product and method developments, but also leading platform level material and technology researches and developments. These responsibilities include researching and discovering novel materials, screening them to determine the most promising candidates, evaluating the feasibility of those with the highest potential, and developing and implementing these materials into the Hanwha Azdel's portfolio. This position plays a large role in ensuring that the Hanwha Azdel's new product pipeline is kept full with medium-to-long range products to fulfill the medium-to-long term new requirements from customers, OEMs or new industry or government regulations, and, therefore, is expected to help shape the future product portfolio of Hanwha Azdel. The Senior Product Developer must be experienced in the composites field and should be familiar with or capable to learn Hanwha Azdel's current products and processes in a timely manner and be capable of working with little direct supervision.The Senior Product Developer must exhibit high energy, have the vision to see potential in new materials, and have the motivation and drive to push challenging development projects through to implementation, as well as demonstrate the leadership and communication skills needed to help a diversified global business achieve its goals. The Senior Product Developer will work with Hanwha Azdel's customers, product/process developers, laboratory technicians, as well as the manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams, and will interact on a regular basis with upper management to review progress and refine goals. This position requires a Master's degree with ten years of industrial experience, or a PhD with five years industrial experience in a field related to polymer/material science/engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering. The new manufacturing technology developer will be expected to make reasonable progress along the technical career path, with opportunities for increasing responsibility in both independent technical contributions and technical management.
Core Duties/Responsibilities:
The key deliverables related to the position include but are not limited to the following:
1) Support safety and housekeeping policies and practices
Operate in a safe, clean, and productive manner.
Support projects to enhance the safety of Lynchburg operations when asked.
Promote all aspects of the Hanwha Azdel Environmental, Health, and Safety guidelines.
2) Drive projects to deliver growth to the Hanwha Azdel business
Identify and implement innovative new product technologies for break-through product performance in order to build the pipeline for future growth.
Drive New Technology Introductions, New Product Introductions, Product Management of Change, and new test method development to support the growth of Hanwha Azdel.
Work with marketing, commercial, manufacturing, quality, and technology teams to ensure success of projects.
Lead projects using statistical design of experiments to deliver Six Sigma performance. Extend rigor to take new products from the laboratory to the manufacturing floor, ensuring consistent manufacturing performance of the products.
3) Document and communicate key learning, identify and pursue patent opportunities, contribute new ideas for consideration.
Document and communicate most important project learning in technical reports.
Identify & pursue patentable ideas via patent disclosures.
Prepare patent applications.
Submit new ideas for consideration.
4) Utilize six sigma tools, NTI/NPD process, and support business initiatives.
Utilize statistical methods to drive key decisions.
Support / follow business processes
Ensure compliance to performance management system
Support upgrade of facilities / infrastructure
Support business initiatives
5) Make reasonable progress along technical career path toward increasing individual contribution or technical management responsibility.
Minimal Qualifications or Requirements
Degree in polymer/composite processing, material science/engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering or very closely related:
MS minimum with at least 10 years experience
PhD with 5 years experience
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in polymer/composite development
Experience in longer term development culminating in bringing a product to market
Experience in interacting with business development groups