Textile Research Engineer I

Who we are: 

The Secant Group is an advanced technology biomaterials company headquartered in Telford, Pennsylvania, with manufacturing facilities in Quakertown and Perkasie, Pennsylvania. Secant provides innovative solutions through next-generation materials, structures, textile designs, and process technologies for the medical device, pharmaceutical, aerospace and energy markets.

What we're looking for: 

The Textile Research Engineer I acts in a technical capacity regarding the set-up, operation, troubleshooting, process optimization of fibers, textiles research and innovation activities, and capabilities. Creates inventive solutions to structural yarn, weaving, braiding and knitting problems using knowledge of fiber-yarn spinning and textiles. Focus will be on internal and customer research and innovation projects with fiber-yarn spinning, weaving, knitting, and braiding for both medical and technical products. Additional focus will be on fiber, yarn, and fabric testing.

What you’ll do:

• Works on internal and customer research projects including fiber and yarn extrusion, wet and melt spinning, electrospinning, weaving, knitting, and braiding.
• Running wet and melt spinning, electrospinning, weaving, knitting, and braiding machinery.
• Develops textile products that satisfies desired specifications on both medical and technical applications. Understands the implications of all the individual steps of production and can suggest process and equipment modifications to meet existing and new customer requirements.
• Tests samples of raw materials (polymers), intermediates (fibers and yarns) and finished products (woven, braided and knitted fabrics) in support of the research projects.
• Analysis using raw material instrumental techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, and UV/Vis.
• Clearly communicates technical information and project status to supervisor and colleagues through written and oral manner.
• Accurately and thoroughly documents procedures and results using laboratory notebooks, reports, records and databases.
• Implement controls on manufacturing methods using existing or new equipment to ensure repeatability and conformance to customer specifications.
• Effectively collaborates with colleagues on laboratory techniques, sample preparation, instrumentation, data analysis and documentation.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Who you are:

• Must have hands-on research and/or development experience on textile fabrics, fibers and yarns.
• Knowledge on how to run the weaving preparation (sizing, warping and beaming), weaving, knitting and braiding machinery.
• MS in fibers, textiles or a related discipline with 0-2 years of experience, OR BS in Textile Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with 2-4 years of experience.
• Hands on experience with spectroscopic, chromatographic, thermal analysis equipment, including FTIR, DSC, Viscosity, TGA, etc.
• Some technical and hands-on experience in various analytical and physical testing of fibers, yarns and textile fabrics.
• Knowledge and experience in medical applications of textiles is preferred.
• Knowledge on polymer processing including fiber extrusion.
• Prior work experience in a regulated environment (ISO 9001, 13485 or QSR Standards).
• Thorough experimental technique and attention to detail.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficient with MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint.

Why join us: 

We promote a collaborative, high energy, and fast-paced environment. Using fact-based data, our team members strive to constantly improve our processes and products. We nurture an environment where employees can creatively innovate solutions that drive impactful results both for the business and themselves.