Application Development Technical Service Engineer
DESCRIPTION:
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
· Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports
· Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
· Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
· Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
WHY AVIENT:
Avient Corporation is a world-class sustainable organization built on innovation, collaboration, and employee development. We are committed to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment where our diverse associates can grow and succeed, as well positively impacting our planet and the communities we serve. Our Great Place to Work culture, values, and benefits make Avient an employer of choice for top talent.
At Avient, we believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.
Job Summary:
The Application Development Technical Service (ADTS) Engineer for Avient’s rapidly growing Fiber-Line business will be responsible for working with new and existing customers in the fiber optic cable (FOC) space in North America to incorporate Avient’s engineered fiber products into their applications and manufacturing processes. The Fiber-Line business produces precision wound, twisted, coated, and pultruded fiber products used in FOC plus other applications and markets. This role will include collaborating with FOC customers to optimize their process conditions plus working with Avient R&D and manufacturing to adjust and develop products to meet customer and application needs. The ADTS engineer will support existing customers by troubleshooting issues raised and participating in the resolution of customer complaints. In conjunction with R&D, they will be responsible for developing new application or product launch testing plans, leading product trials, analyzing data, and communicating results. This will include identifying and utilizing appropriate technology capabilities internally across Avient and externally with academic labs, customers, and converters, plus developing strategic partnerships in pursuit of delivering our growth pipeline. The ADTS engineer will collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, and R&D colleagues to drive continued growth primarily in Avient Fiber-Line’s core business of engineered fibers in fiber optic cable (FOC).
The ideal candidate will have relevant technical experience in materials and processes specific to FOC manufacturing and end uses with the ability to interact, build relationships, and influence cross-functionally internally and externally with customers. In this role, they must perform effectively independently, collaborate with others as part of a team, lead cross-functional project teams, and effectively influence others to achieve results. The individual must have the professionalism, technical and business competencies, and communication skills to build relationships and lead application development and technical service efforts with end use customers, representing Avient as a credible FOC technical expert. While this role is responsible for Avient Fiber-Line business in North America, the individual is part of a global business and a broader Avient technical community and must communicate, collaborate, and utilize the global network while approaching efforts with a global view.
The position is based in the U.S. and can be performed remotely or hybrid but within reasonable proximity to our Hatfield, PA and Hickory, NC sites. Up to 60% travel required.
Essential Functions:
- Provide project management for new application developments, including product launch testing plans, data analysis, communication of results, technical product specification creation, and cross-functional work stream coordination.
- Provide technical service support to established and targeted customers, including resolving customer technical issues and complaints in addition to helping customers incorporate Avient products into their manufacturing processes and product developments.
- In collaboration with the commercial team, identify and pursue new customer and application opportunities within our existing customer and market base, primarily focused on FOC.
- Serve as a credible technical expert at customers, manufacturing partners, and broadly across the FOC and wire and cable industries.
- Collaborate with other Avient businesses and Corporate Technology as part of the larger Avient technical community of scientists and engineers.
- 80% focus on FOC market/applications with 20% focus on other markets/applications.
- Other functions as required.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree required in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science, or Textile) or related discipline; Masters or Ph.D. preferred.
- At least 5 years’ experience in R&D, Application Development, Process Development, and/or Technical Service roles with demonstrated direct customer engagement.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of FOC or wire & cable materials and processes.
- Broad knowledge of materials (polymers and fibers).
- Knowledge of high performance fibers like aramid, glass, carbon, or others preferred.
- Knowledge of extrusion or coating technologies and processes preferred.
- Experience with fiber processing a bonus.
- Demonstrated capabilities developing and/or troubleshooting complex manufacturing processes.
- Complex problem solving skills with ability to translate customer needs into achievable technical solutions.
- Self-motivated team player who leads by doing.
- Curious learner comfortable exploring new technical fields, markets, and technologies.
- Ability to communicate technically complex subjects to audiences with different levels of technical understanding.
- Ability to develop and manage relationships with customers and industry counterparts.
- Ability to network and engage colleagues globally.
Physical Demands
The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
· Must be able to work in laboratory, plant and processing environments.
· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and/or hear.
· Occasionally required to sit.
· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, and ability to differentiate color.
Work Environment
The characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
· Requires the use of safety equipment as dictated by the work area such as safety glasses and shoes, dust mask, face shield, hearing protection, gloves, aprons, etc.
· Occasionally work in a manufacturing environment where the noise level is loud.
- The individual will be required to work extensively at a computer screen and will,
at times, sit at a desk for extended periods.
- Must be able to travel by car or airplane.
WHY AVIENT:
At Avient, we strive for a culture of trust and engagement. Our associates are leading company initiatives such as LEAD by Women, HYPE (Harnessing Young Professionals), Pride and EMBRACE to advance diversity in professional and personal development. We also provide our associates with robust development programs such as Avient Academy, Lean Six Sigma, and various leadership workshops to allow for career growth in a variety of ways. With workplace flexibility, health and wellness programs, casual dress days, and paid time off for community service, we are committed to building upon our positive momentum.
At Avient, we believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. #LI-AD1