Chemical Engineer

Henniges Automotive has an opportunity for a Chemical Engineer in Frederick, OK. The Chemical Engineer will develop and drive materials innovation strategy to align with customer needs and emerging industry trends. Provide hands on material expertise to ongoing production compounding issues. Develop and execute materials innovation projects that align with corporate goals and communicate status to executive management.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Interface with customer engineering teams to gain deep understanding of their product needs and identify opportunities for differentiation through materials development.
• Gain expert knowledge of Henniges core competencies (sealing design, rubber mixing, extrusion and molding processes, tooling and equipment, etc.)
• Conduct competitor materials benchmarking. Confer with universities and industry experts to conduct research into composition, structure, properties, relationships, and reactions across applicable materials to develop/improve products.
• Participate in cross-functional team (Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing) to develop, validate, and industrialize new materials that deliver customer value. Support commercialization and marketing of solutions to customers.
• Conduct DOEs in a lab using equipment such as a mixer, mill, press, MDR. Design and conduct production trials in mixing, extrusion, and molding processes. Document trial reports.
• Lead technical presentations and proposals to customers. Present advanced materials strategy and project status updates to Henniges Senior Leadership team.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.

Education

• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Polymer Engineering or equivalent
• Preferred: Master’s degree in Chemistry/Polymer Science

Experience

• Minimum: Working cross functionally and with global team members. Managing multiple, concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment, effectively prioritize work, and deliver quality results.
• Preferred:3 to 5 years of experience in EPDM/TPV compounding, formulation development and mixing process. Experience in extrusion and molding process of EPDM/TPV materials in vehicle sealing applications. Low friction coating and adhesive materials application and process development is a plus.

Skills and Abilities

• Communicates effectively (verbally and in writing) at all levels, inside and outside the company actively listens. Initiates innovative ideas and approaches, challenges status quo with sound alternatives.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify key issues from a broad range of alternatives and recommend optimal solutions.
• Well-developed organization and planning skills.
• Travel (20%) to customers, suppliers and to Henniges manufacturing sites to gain expert knowledge of products/processes and develop/execute value-creating projects.