R&D Applications Engineer

Seeking a proactive, inquisitive scientist who enjoys working in a fast-moving, collaborative environment that spans multiple disciplines. This role offers significant opportunities for professional development and discovery, along with travel to plants and customer sites to tackle real-world challenges and see your ideas put into action.

Client Details

Our Client is a private, Akron-based leader in rubber chemical solutions, specializing in high-quality tire additives and comprehensive technical innovation, with a global manufacturing footprint and a strong commitment to performance, collaboration, and sustainability.

Description

• Leverage a strong foundation in scientific principles and problem-solving skills, combined with intellectual curiosity, to address diverse challenges across multiple product lines. This includes developing structure-property relationships, evaluating how product and process attributes impact customer applications, and recommending improvements to meet evolving needs.
• Apply expertise in powders, rheology, rubber, polymer science, physical chemistry, or engineering to enhance understanding of product performance across a range of parameters.
• Advance application development by designing and conducting laboratory tests, performing product characterization, and executing targeted experiments.
• Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and sales teams to ensure customer feedback is integrated into product enhancements.
• Engage directly with customers through site visits to R&D labs, manufacturing facilities, and operational environments to gain deep insight into their needs and evaluate product performance in real-world conditions.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and contribute to market intelligence initiatives that guide innovation and strategy.
• Collaborate with colleagues to generate ideas, set project goals, define work plans, and establish milestones.
• Present findings and recommendations clearly to stakeholders across business management, marketing, technology, commercial, and manufacturing functions.
• 15% Travel

Profile

• Masters in Chemical/Materials Engineering, or a related discipline required
• A problem-solving attitude, broad intellectual curiosity and an ability to learn / combine knowledge from different disciplines to develop understanding of product/application performance
• Demonstrated broad working knowledge in a wide range of polymer science skills including structure property relationships, polymer physics, characterization, and polymer testing. Experience with powder rheology is a plus.
• Entry to 5 years experience
• Experience with standard laboratory methods and safety protocols
• Experience in the development of processing-structure-property relationships through systematic experimental design
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Independent and driven with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously within a multi-site cross-functional team

Job Offer

• Competitive base salary with annual performance bonus opportunities
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• 401(k) with company match and profit-sharing program
• Generous paid time off, including 3 weeks of vacation to start
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Collaborative, innovation-driven work environment
• Opportunities for domestic and international travel
• Chance to work on impactful sustainability initiatives in the tire and rubber industry

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.