Product Development Engineer - Taylorville, IL

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.

Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!

We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?

We are looking for a Product Development Engineer at our Taylorville, IL Facility. The starting salary for this position is $65,000.00 plus eligibility for a Short Term Incentive Plan at a 6% target.

Purpose: This position is responsible for managing a portfolio of product development projects and supporting new business initiatives within the Filtration and Life Sciences business area in addition to leading project initiatives as the technical contact with customers, plants, suppliers and other relevant functions for project success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all governmental regulations (OSHA, EPA) and plant systems for ISO14001, QS9001 and ISO45001
• Adhere to all safety policies and contribute to the improvement of the safety culture at the plant through active participation in safety activities and teams.
• Understand and support the business strategy, addressing customer/market needs and effectively deploying them
• Manage the product development project portfolio of the business unit to ensure alignment with the strategy
• Actively participate in product development activities and in generating new products and solutions in the focus product areas
• Ensure the inception and introduction of new products in accordance with customer needs and business priorities, pushing the bounds of our technical development capabilities
• Support business unit and plants in product development activities, technology transfer, qualification trials for products or raw materials and changes of process as well as for troubleshooting activities
• Provide solutions to complex technical problems, through technical expertise and best practice sharing
• Work in close cooperation with Product Management, Technical Customer Service, Operations and Sales
• Manage the reporting related to PD KPIs
• Manage regulatory aspects linked to PD activities, including patents, in collaboration with IP function
• Lead and participate to relationships and projects in cooperation with external institutions, including universities, government research departments and private research institutes
• Performs other related projects and other duties as assigned.
  
  

Education, Experience and Credentials:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (chemical or material)
• At least 5 years of experience in technical roles, such as product development and R&D, with strong focus on innovation, within a challenging industrial environment
• Result and customer oriented mindset
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Good communication and networking skills, both internally and externally
• Strong problem solving skills
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Requires the ability to use multiple computer programs/systems including MS Office Suite.
• Requires the ability to work independently while fostering a team environment.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members.
• Requires ability to be consistently at work and on time on scheduled workdays.
• Project coordination experience and solid troubleshooting skills
• Exercise a high degree of independent judgment, self-motivation and communication skills both verbal and written.
• Lead and participate on problem-solving teams, facilitating the use of problem-solving techniques and tools.
• Understanding of papermaking supply chain, processes flow and manufacturing equipment
• Good mechanical and mathematical aptitudes.
  
  

Physial Requirements:

• Significant time spent on the manufacturing environment with machine operators.
• Dedicated keyboard and computer screen work.
• Ability to work safely in a R&D laboratory with little to no supervision.
• The employee must possess the ability to see, hear, talk, sit, stand, walk, and use fingers to manipulate controls.
• The employee is frequently required to bend, stoop, and lift items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to be on call to come in and help work on machinery and to also answer questions in the plant.
• Some travel required.
  
  

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us.

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2023 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.

Learn more at