Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging. The Product Development Engineer for Industrial Flexible Films leads the design, development, and commercialization of blown polyethylene film products serving industrial applications.

Responsibilities:

Develop new and improved blown film products for industrial applications (e.g., stretch hood, shrink film, heavy-duty FFS sacks, lamination and converting films, agricultural and construction films)
Design multilayer coextruded film structures, including resin and additive selection, layer architecture, and gauge optimization to meet mechanical, optical, and sealing requirements
Develop and optimize blown film extrusion processes; establish and document operating windows, and lead scale-up from lab/pilot to commercial lines
Lead downgauging and cost-out programs that preserve or improve performance (puncture, dart, tear, tensile, elongation, holding force, seal integrity)
Integrate post-consumer recycled (PCR) content into industrial film structures while maintaining performance and processability
Advance mono-material PE designs and design-for-recyclability in line with recognized protocols (e.g., APR / RecyClass)
Evaluate emerging resins, additives, and film technologies for application fit and competitive advantage
Define test plans and interpret results across mechanical, optical, thermal, and sealing properties
Apply structure–property relationships and polymer rheology to diagnose issues and guide formulation and process decisions
Use Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical methods to drive efficient, data-based development
Run trials at internal sites and customer/converter locations; support form-fill-seal, slitting, printing, and lamination processes
Provide technical support to Sales and customers, including troubleshooting field performance
Manage projects through the stage-gate process, with clear documentation, timelines, and cross-functional alignment
Partner with Product Management on product roadmaps, specifications, and business cases
Collaborate with Operations and Quality on manufacturability, specifications, and qualification
Maintain thorough technical records; contribute to IP, specifications, and knowledge capture

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer/Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field
3+ years of experience in polyethylene film extrusion, flexible packaging, or converting [adjust to target level]
Working knowledge of blown film extrusion and multilayer coextrusion
Understanding of polyethylene resins (LDPE, LLDPE, mLLDPE, HDPE), additives, and structure–property relationships
Experience taking products from concept through scale-up and commercialization
Proficiency with DOE and statistical analysis; comfort interpreting film test data
Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Willingness to travel up to 50% to manufacturing sites and customers
Master's degree in a relevant engineering or polymer discipline
Direct experience with industrial film applications (stretch hood, shrink, FFS, lamination, ag/construction)
Experience integrating PCR content and developing recyclable mono-material PE structures
Familiarity with recyclability protocols (APR, RecyClass) and relevant EPR/PCR regulatory drivers
Six Sigma / Lean certification (Green or Black Belt) and DMAIC project experience
Hands-on extrusion line and pilot-plant experience

Supplier Quality Engineer

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