TAPPI Industry Career Center: Dart Container Seeks Senior Materials Engineer

This Engineer position is the third level of engineer in the engineering department. This level is for the employee who possesses recognized technical expertise in at least one area of the operational environment. The employee provides professional guidance, leadership, and training to other technical and non-technical personnel. The employee is capable of leading multiple complex projects of long duration (9 months or less) and of medium risk (with high probability of intangible), while continuously improving areas of personal knowledge, will provide training and tutoring of others. This position is mostly self-directed. Creativity in developing novel ideas and using ingenuity to solve problems is required. Major technical decisions are reviewed by the supervisor.

 

This position provides development and support in selected aspects of paper and plastic materials and processing used in Dart products. This individual has material oversight for new paper and plastic products. The employee will also collaborate with other Dart departments to maintain company's competitive advantage based on paper or plastic materials selection. 

 

The Senior Engineer must: 

• Collaborate as a productive member of project teams (with a mentor as necessary) and lead projects of limited size and scope
• Learn and demonstrate Engineering Professionalism and Dart VCPs (Values, Culture, and Philosophy) in customer-related interactions actively work to do exactly as the customer requests, and provide efficient service to internal and external customers
• Schedule daily activities to complete assigned tasks, communicate and document requisite information while following established Dart policies and procedures (with assistance as needed)
• Demonstrate fundamental technical knowledge for the resolution of process and equipment problems,implement basic solutions, maintain data and verify the results.

Specific Duties:

• Project Leadership 
• Receive general direction and minimal supervision when creating projects, obtaining approvals, and reviewing results. Participate in troubleshooting and analysis of problems to rapidly identify, evaluate, propose, and implement solutions
• Actively ensure lower level engineers are following applicable equipment and process design standards and regulations. Seek opportunities to evolve and improve each
• Coordinate between, prioritize among and contribute to several concurrent projects, some of large scope, in an organized and effective manner. Perform as a project leader, including, but not limited to, establishing project goals, coordinating resources, monitoring progress, conducting status meetings and submitting subsequent reports, for projects of varying scope or requiring specialized knowledge. Design test parameters, mechanisms and equipment used to collect, summarize and report test data using statistical analysis where applicable.

Customer Service:

• Actively listen to the input of others, use collaboration, and respect confidentiality
• Identify potential equipment or process problems and improvements in conjunction with all levels of production and management personnel
• Act as a consultant to other departments, provide input to corporate management, and direct the activities of lower level personnel to accomplish requests/assignments.

 Administrative Duties:

• Conduct and direct work in a safe manner following established best practices, rules, and regulations. Recognize safety hazards and take corrective. Intervene with co-workers who may be working in an unsafe manner. Assist in developing workplace safety procedures. Lead/conduct investigations of any accidents/incidents
• Initiate, adapt to and manage change
• Mentor colleagues and co-workers in their professional development
• Delegate tasks as appropriate to complete required work
• Provide input to management on performance of others. Actively participate in one’s own appraisal.

Technical Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement cost-effective manufacturing processes, equipment and new materials from concept through production
• Act as a liaison for the production plants and engineering operations groups to resolve chronic performance issues with equipment, processes, and product
• Actively seek out, research and recommend new or revised processes, products or technology to improve safety, quality, service, and efficiency.
• Provide technical research, assistance, and/or training to individuals in Engineering, production facilities, or other departments.
• Review and participate in design test parameters, mechanisms and equipment used to collect, summarize and report test data using statistical analysis where applicable. Assist with evaluation and resolution of multi-disciplinary design problems. Perform detailed engineering work in part of a major project or in a total project.  Stay abreast of new technologies using appropriate resources.

 Group Specific:

• Maintains in-depth relationships with current and potential material vendors so as to provide detailed technical guidance in new materials selection for new and current products.  Coordinates development programs with outside resources.  Function as recognized internal expert for critical materials
• Conducts technology watch on emerging trends of material development.  Recommends investigative work and development program on materials that bring competitive advantages to Dart’s product offering
• Assesses customer functional requirements.  Recommends and implements materials strategy accordingly
• Leads projects with Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement and other members of the cross-functional teams to complete Development, Sampling and/or New Product Development activities relating to new materials and/or products.  Plans, directs and manages scale up activities as material projects move to commercialization
• Creates, distributes and maintains engineering documents in SAP including Raw Materials Specifications, Product Materials Specifications and Vendor Materials Specifications
• Coordinates activities relating to obtaining prototype materials including but not limited to:  vendor communications, material availability, review of samples with appropriate parties.  Based on these activities generates product cost impact data for new product costing estimates.  Maintains company's competitive advantage based on materials selection
• Develops qualification plans for new materials and/or suppliers.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Materials Engineering, Material Science, Pulp and Paper Engineering or related field AND at least eight (8) years of Engineer related experience in Materials Engineering, Material Science, Pulp and Paper Engineering OR
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology and at least ten (10) years of Engineer related experience in Materials Engineering, Material Science, Pulp and Paper Engineering 
• Five (5) years of experience in word processing, spreadsheet software, internet and email
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Organizational and problem solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.  Ability to work in a team environment with low day to day direction
• Strong understanding and interpretation of pulp and paper material composition/structure/property/application performance relationships
• Good understanding and practical knowledge in statistical analysis and design of experiments
• The ability to travel up to 15% of the time domestically
• Valid driver's license and favorable motor vehicle report
• Ability to obtain and maintain a passport
• Masters or PhD in Materials Engineering , Material Science, Pulp and Paper Engineering or related field, preferred
• Experience with materials consisting of research, and new material product development and applications, preferred. 

About Dart Container:

Dart Container Corporation, founded and headquartered in Mason, Michigan, sets the Industry Standard of Excellence in the development, manufacture and distribution of innovative foodservice packaging solutions. Dart manufactures cups, plates, containers, lids and straws made from such materials as expanded polystyrene foam, solid polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), paper and sugar cane. From its humble origins as a machine shop in Mason, Dart has expanded across the globe to include more than 40 locations in seven countries. Dart has about 15,000 employees worldwide.

 

 

For more employment opportunities, visit the TAPPI Industry Career Center.

 

Subscribe to the TAPPI CareerWire newsletter for the latest industry career information.