Chemical Engineer

SUMMARY Plan and execute projects to evaluate raw materials, formulations, components, and finished products.

These responsibilities include justifying project initiation, testing, preparing technical reports, submitting les to outside agencies for certification, and preparing proposals for approval of suitable me:llerials/products.

Prepare company product specifications, purchase specifications, and packaging specifications.

Provide internal technical support to production facilities and to the Headquarters staff through literature review and through testing of samples.

Coordinate with Headquarters Quality Assurance for new material/new product qualifications.

Improve processing and equipment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Other duties may be assigned.

• Prepare outlines and time lines for research and development projects.
• Prepare monthly status reports on active projects.
• Manage multi-stage projects so that the overall project finishes in a timely manner.
• Prepare pound-volume cost comparisons of plastic formulations.
• Prepare PVC compounds using a laboratory mixer.
• Evaluate plastic compounds using a torque rheometer.
• Plan, request, monitor, and evaluate short-term extrusion trials and injection molding trials.
• Prepare test specimens from trial samples using powered cutting devices such as saws and routers.
• Measure specimen dimensions using precisi;'n micrometers, calipers, circumferential wrap tapes, and scales.
• Check specimen mass using precision elect1 1ic scales.
• Per J-M and various outside agency standard test methods, test specimens for conformance to :inured or desired properties. Test the specimens with various types of test apparatus: falling .heights (ASTM 02444), universal test machines (ASTM 02412), chemical reagents, and solvents (ASTM 02152 and others).
• Record, evaluate, and report extrusion trial results.
• Coordinate with scheduling, Production, and HQ QA to set up and monitor long-term trials.
• Compile additive information from vendors for inclusion in purchase specifications. prepare and route for approval drafts of new/revised purchase specifications. Distribute spec upon approval.
• Review applicable product specification(s) requirernents and combine them into the company internal product specifications. Route company specs for approval and distribute upon approval.