Product Development Engineer

Role details

About the Role

Develop thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) formulations and lead technical support for assigned markets. In this onsite role in Buford, GA, you will translate customer application requirements into material recommendations, formulation trials, testing, and qualification support. You will partner with Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance, regional business units, suppliers, and customers to support existing applications and new business opportunities.

What You’ll Do

• Lead technical support for Sales in assigned markets; define customer application and performance requirements and recommend KRAIBURG TPE materials.
• Develop and refine TPE recipes using raw material functionality, compounding processes, and extrusion parameters.
• Work with Operations, Sales, suppliers, and customers to improve process control, color tolerances, recipes, and material selection; recommend part or tooling modifications where appropriate.
• Coordinate development trials, color matches, and small-sample production with Production and Quality Assurance on the development/sample line.
• Support customer material evaluations and qualification trials with engineers, product development teams, and processors, providing application-specific material, design, and processing guidance.
• Lead sample, test data, and documentation preparation for material approvals, including applicable FDA, UL, NSF, and automotive original equipment manufacturer requirements.
• Coordinate with the Quality Assurance laboratory to define and meet customer testing, product certification, and certificate of analysis (COA) requirements.
• Respond promptly to sample and technical data requests received by email, phone, in person, or through CRM software, the customer-requirements support tool.
• Coordinate customer technical support with regional KRAIBURG TPE business units and provide product and application expertise in Sales-led customer meetings.
• Maintain knowledge of the product portfolio, assigned markets, application requirements, and applicable industry and regulatory requirements through training and technical seminars.
• Represent KRAIBURG TPE professionally with customers, suppliers, sales partners, and industry associations, reinforcing its reputation for quality, innovation, responsive service, and technical expertise.
• Follow company safety, travel, ethics, and Human Resources policies, and perform other related duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring

• A four-year degree in polymer science or engineering, materials science, or chemical engineering.
• 3–6 years of plastics industry experience, including compounding and materials laboratory testing and evaluation; plastics engineering experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of TPE compounding, formulation and recipe development, raw material functionality, and extrusion parameters.
• Strong knowledge of TPE products, end-use markets, and application performance requirements, with particular expertise in defining and applying critical test requirements.
• Working knowledge of TPE color compounding, color matching, color standards, and injection molding; foundational knowledge of part and tooling design.
• Ability to learn and use CRM software to define customer requirements and support new sales opportunities.
• Effective English communication skills for technical discussions, written documentation, and presentations.
• Strong time and project management skills to manage multiple projects and respond promptly to customer and business needs.
• Critical thinking, practical problem-solving, teamwork, and the initiative to work independently.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and business systems such as SAP.
• Ability to work onsite in Buford, GA, and travel up to 25%, domestically and internationally.

Compensation & Benefits

: KTPE offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package

ABOUT US

KRAIBURG TPE (www.kraiburg-tpe.com) is a global manufacturer of custom thermoplastic elastomers. KRAIBURG TPE was founded in 2001 as an independent business unit of the KRAIBURG Group and is now the industry's competence leader in the field of TPE compounds. The company's goal is to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable products for customer applications. With more than 700 employees worldwide and production sites in Germany, the USA and Malaysia, the company offers a large product portfolio for applications in the automotive, industrial and consumer goods industries, as well as for the strictly regulated medical sector.

The established THERMOLAST®, COPEC®, HIPEX® and For Tec E® product lines are processed by injection molding or extrusion and offer manufacturers numerous advantages not only in processing but also in product design. KRAIBURG TPE is characterized by its innovative strength, global customer orientation, customized product solutions, and reliable service. The company is ISO 50001 certified at its headquarters in Germany and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications at all its sites worldwide.

KRAIBURG TPE Corp is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.