Our client is a global manufacturer of high-performance engineering plastics, polymers and advanced material solutions serving demanding applications across Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, Medical, Industrial and Consumer markets.
As part of continued growth throughout the Americas, they are seeking a Technical Service Engineer (Application Engineering) to provide customer-facing technical support and application development expertise. Working closely with customers throughout the complete product development lifecycle, you will help identify technical requirements and provide practical solutions covering material selection, injection molding, processing, part performance, qualification, troubleshooting and product launch.
This is a highly cross-functional and customer-facing position, acting as a technical bridge between customers, sales teams and global Technical/R&D functions across North America, South America and Asia. The role combines polymer and materials knowledge with application engineering, problem-solving and customer engagement, with an average of approximately three customer meetings per week. Many meetings are conducted virtually or locally within Michigan, with occasional domestic and international travel, including South America.
Key Responsibilities- Work directly with customers throughout the product development lifecycle, from initial application requirements and material selection through qualification, validation, troubleshooting and product launch.
- Develop practical technical solutions covering engineering thermoplastics, material selection, injection molding, processing conditions, part design and component performance.
- Support customer molding trials, product evaluations and qualification activities, providing technical recommendations based on application and performance requirements.
- Troubleshoot material, molding and application issues, conducting root-cause analysis and translating technical findings into clear, practical customer recommendations.
- Evaluate relationships between material properties, processing conditions, dimensional stability, durability and final component performance.
- Utilize analytical and material-characterization techniques including DSC, FTIR, SEM, microscopy, MFR, mechanical/impact testing and dimensional analysis, where appropriate.
- Prepare technical reports, processing recommendations, application-development documentation and customer presentations.
- Support the development and commercialization of new materials and applications across automotive, electrical/electronics, consumer, industrial and related markets.
- Build strong relationships with customer engineering, materials, manufacturing and product-development teams, providing responsive and value-added technical consultation.
- Partner closely with internal Sales, Technical Service, R&D, Commercial and Product teams to support customer projects, technical presentations and new-business opportunities.
- Provide technical support and application training to customers, distributors and channel partners throughout the Americas.
- Collaborate with global Technical Service and R&D teams, particularly in Asia, to communicate customer requirements and coordinate application-development and technical investigation activities.
- Work effectively within an international, multicultural environment, with flexibility for occasional early-morning or evening meetings and domestic/international travel as required.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, ideally 5-8 years, within application engineering, technical service, polymer engineering, injection molding, product development or a related technical field.
- Strong understanding of engineering thermoplastics and injection molding fundamentals, including material behavior, processing conditions, tooling concepts and their impact on final component performance.
- Ability to understand customer technical challenges and translate them into practical material, processing and application solutions.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with technical investigations, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
- Strong customer-facing, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to engineering, commercial and other stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple customer projects and technical activities while working effectively across internal and external teams.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software.
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including occasional travel to South America.
- Flexibility to participate in occasional early-morning or evening meetings with global teams.
Preferred Experience- Customer-facing application engineering or technical service experience within engineering plastics, polymers, specialty chemicals or advanced materials.
- Experience supporting material selection, injection molding, product qualification and application development programs.
- Familiarity with material characterization techniques such as DSC, FTIR, SEM, microscopy, MFR, mechanical testing and dimensional metrology.
- Automotive OEM/Tier supplier or other technically demanding manufacturing experience would be advantageous.
- Spanish-language capability is a plus.
Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan (Hybrid Remote + Travel)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct-Hire
Compensation: $105,000 - $110,000 Base Salary (Negotiable Based on Experience)
Benefits: Performance-based Bonus 12.5% OTE, Physical Company Car, Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, 401(k) Match, Generous PTO and Good Career Development Opportunities.
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