Technical Manager - Rubber Manufacturing

PURPOSE

The Technical Manager provides technical leadership for rubber manufacturing, including compound development, testing, troubleshooting, and process improvement. This role ensures products and processes meet quality, performance, cost, and customer requirements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and engage in technical troubleshooting of existing products and customer complaints
• Design new or refine existing polymers
• Lead the technical team in overseeing raw material qualification and approvals, certification of finished goods physical properties, troubleshooting of complex technical issues, and development of new products
• Influence, assist, and mentor the team to develop technical skills and techniques
• Read and write technical reports
• Develop, write, and edit existing standard operating procedures; ensuring valid and accurate information
• Lead or actively participate in root cause analysis, design of experiments, action item implementation, and plans for sustaining preventative actions relating to the technical department.
• Work with inter-departmental teams to identify and implement improvements with new technologies that will boost product quality, yields, and reduce production costs.
• Execute responsibilities with a large degree of urgency and autonomy requiring minimal oversight by immediate manager.
• Promote a safe work environment.
• Other responsibilities or projects as assigned by reporting manager.

COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate will have experience with polymer chemistry and analytical characterization of polymers. Strong presentation skills, oral and written communication skills are required to facilitate technical transfer of activities between R&D and production. Individuals must be comfortable working in cross-functional teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Substantial rubber compounding/formulation experience - ideally 7+ years in industrial rubber manufacturing, including hands-on responsibility for developing, modifying, troubleshooting, or approving rubber formulations.
2. Strong knowledge of elastomers and compounding ingredients, particularly materials relevant to your products, such as:
• SBR, NBR, EPDM and natural rubber
• Carbon black and other fillers
• Plasticizers/process oils
• Antioxidants and antidegradants
• Sulfur and other cure systems
• Accelerators, activators and processing aids
3. Practical rubber-processing experience. Understanding of how formulation changes affect processing-not simply whether the cured laboratory sample meets specifications. Experience should include several of the following: mixing, milling, extrusion, calendering, vulcanization/press curing, continuous curing, and process troubleshooting.
4. Rubber physical-property and laboratory testing knowledge, including experience interpreting results for properties such as tensile strength, elongation, hardness/durometer, abrasion, aging, oil resistance, heat resistance, cure characteristics, and adhesion.
5. Demonstrated formulation and troubleshooting ability. Skilled in working backward from a problem-poor adhesion, scorching, insufficient cure, excessive stiffness, poor calendering behavior, etc.-and determining whether the cause is formulation, raw material, process conditions, or some combination.
6. Experience transferring formulations and products from development into production, including establishing appropriate processing windows and production parameters.
7. Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills, particularly for product failures, manufacturing defects, raw-material variation, and process problems.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Rubber Technology, or a related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent extensive experience in rubber compounding and industrial rubber manufacturing will also be considered.

LANGUAGE ABILITY

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and work instructions.

MATH ABILITY

Strong mathematical aptitude with the ability to perform calculations involving percentages, ratios, proportions, formulas, unit conversions, algebra, geometry, and statistics. Ability to calculate and evaluate rubber compound formulations, specific gravity, material yields, dimensions, tolerances, test data, process capability, and other technical manufacturing measurements.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Strong Excel skills preferred, including the ability to analyze technical data, create spreadsheets, perform calculations, and develop charts or reports. Experience with ERP/MRP systems, laboratory or quality management software, and manufacturing data systems is preferred. Ability to learn and effectively use company-specific technical, production, and reporting systems

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

N/A

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Works in a manufacturing environment in all types of weather. While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly works with manufacturing equipment. An employee performing the duties of this job is required to use proper safety procedures to eliminate any potential hazards. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work requires moderate physical effort and the use of motor skills requiring manual dexterity. While performing duties of this job, the employee will regularly sit, stand, walk, kneel, and crouch. The employee must be able to physically lift, lower, and carry products weighing up to 20 lbs. The position may require operating a forklift, requiring some coordinated movements.

Operating a forklift or other manufacturing equipment is considered a "Safety Sensitive" function. A Safety-Sensitive Function, as defined by the Company, is one that requires the operation of motor vehicles, forklifts, or motorized warehouse equipment, or one that involves inspecting, servicing, conditioning, controlling, supervising, and loading or unloading such machinery. Employees performing "Safety-Sensitive Functions" are prohibited from reporting to work or being on duty while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.