Product Development Specialist - Polymers & Thermoplastics (M/F/D)
Our client is seeking an innovative Product Development Polymer Scientist - Thermoplastics to join a highly advanced R&D function in Switzerland. This is a hybrid role at the intersection of polymer science, data-driven modelling, and industrial-scale manufacturing, offering the opportunity to develop and scale next-generation thermoplastic materials using cutting-edge digital and simulation tools.
You will play a key role in accelerating product development, improving material performance, and supporting manufacturing excellence through a combination of hands-on polymer expertise and advanced analytics.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, formulation, and scale-up of thermoplastic materials from lab to pilot plant and full-scale production
- Conduct material characterisation using thermal, mechanical, rheological, and physical testing techniques
- Collaborate with process engineers to optimise compounding, extrusion, calendaring, and injection moulding processes
- Develop and apply CAE / FEA / CFD models to capture structure-process-property relationships and guide product and process design
- Design and execute statistically robust DoE to optimise formulations and processing conditions
- Apply data analytics, machine learning, and hybrid physics-ML modelling to accelerate development cycles and enable predictive digital twins
- Work cross-functionally with R&D, manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams to translate customer needs into technical solutions
- Support plant trials, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives
Requirements
- PhD (or equivalent experience) in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline
- 5+ years' experience in thermoplastic formulation and processing within an industrial or applied R&D environment
- Strong knowledge of polymer structure-property relationships, rheology, and thermal analysis
- Experience with FEA / CFD tools (e.g. ABAQUS, ANSYS, COMSOL, LS-DYNA, HyperWorks or similar)
- Proven application of machine learning, predictive modelling, and advanced statistical methods to materials or process datasets
- Proficiency in Python or R; experience with statistical software (e.g. JMP, Minitab) is beneficial
- Hands-on experience with polymer processing equipment and laboratory instrumentation
- Comfortable working in cross-functional, international environments
- Willingness to travel (up to ~20%) for trials, plant support, and customer interaction
Apply directly today!
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.