TAPPI Career Center: Sonoco Seeks Product Development Engineer/Scientist.

Sonoco is looking for a Product Development Engineer/Scientist in their Hartsville, S.C., USA, headquarters location. 

 

Primary responsibilities:

• Strong oral/written communication and interpersonal skills, with ability to adjust his/her style to various customers and
• Promote an injury-free work environment
• Assist sales and business development functions in identifying prospects, conduct technical discovery, and provide assessment on probability of success.
• Conceive, design and test new products; conduct trials to ensure that newly developed products are successfully transferred to production at the Sonoco Adhesive Division and commercialized at internal and external customer locations
• Keep abreast of cutting edge technologies in paper and packaging industries. Strive to be innovative. Assess and recommend feasibility of such technical innovations for Sonoco applications.  
• Leverage new technologies and new products to new customers, industry segments and markets.
• Utilize analytical troubleshooting, Six Sigma & Lean Manufacturing tools to enhance performance of existing products, reduce total manufacturing costs, and improve productivity in support of customers’ business objectives.
• Support supply chain management team in identifying and qualifying vendors of raw materials and additives.
• Lead or support quality assurance function in identifying root causes of quality issues, establishing and implementing control changes to provide long-term sustainable improvements at customer locations.
• Maintain complete and accurate records on intellectual properties and pursue patent application or trade secrete as appropriate.
• Effectively communicate project status, technical market assessment, and recommendations to all stakeholders,
• Must have a four year Bachelor degree in Chem. Eng., Chemistry, Polymer Science, Material Science, or other related fields. Advanced degree preferred.
• Five - ten years of experience in paper industry
• Practical knowledge of paper mills and paper machines required
• Experience in Fourdrinier forming technology desirable
• Demonstrated achievements in research, product or process development, and commercialization of new products
• Ability to aggressively attack complex problems and identify feasible or optimal solutions
• Ability to apply creativity and innovation to achieve technical and business objectives
• Ability to simultaneously lead or participate in multiple cross-functional teams in a dynamic, fast paced environment
• Dependably deliver results within the time commitments
• Willingness to be an individual contributor, conducting bench or trial work with minimal supervision
• Having good work ethic, can-do attitude, and adaptability. 

Founded in 1899 on the belief that "oeople build businesses", Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized combined sales of approximately $5 billion, the Company has more than 21,000 employees working in more than 340 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco values its people and is committed to giving them every opportunity to use their talent and skills to grow themselves, their careers and our Company. We offer world-class benefits, value people and teamwork, celebrate challenges, reward success, are committed to employee satisfaction and work/life balance, and are recognized worldwide for our commitment to growing future leaders.

 

 

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