Job Type
Full-time
Description
We are seeking a hands-on R&D engineer to join our engineering team. This is a well rounded, on-the-floor engineering role in a startup environment with a focus on extrusion and molding equipment. The R&D equipment engineer works within a cross functional team of R&D scientists, engineers, and technicians to keep our lab and pilot equipment running, bring new equipment online, and set up new processes as we scale innovative compostable materials from the bench to pilot production.
This role will be located on-site at our facility in Stone Mountain, GA (greater Atlanta metro area). This position will report to the director of engineering and commercialization. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who figures things out first and then fixes them, works very well independently, and is comfortable spending most of the day on the floor.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Sets up, operates, and optimizes equipment including twin screw and single screw extruders, injection molders, heated presses and forming tools, mixers, dryers, and downstream equipment.
- Diagnoses equipment problems to root cause (mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, or controls), fixes what can be fixed in-house, and brings in vendors or contractors for the rest.
- Brings new and idle equipment online: placement, utility hookups, initial start-up.
- Specs, quotes, and procures new equipment and auxiliaries (feeders, dryers, chillers, pumps, tooling) and manages vendors from PO through installation and acceptance.
- Fabricates fixtures, adapters, guards, frames, and small parts using shop tools such as the bandsaw, drill press, CNC mill, and 3D printers; manages outside fabrication for larger items.
- Uses 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) to lay out equipment, design fixtures, and build drawing sets for fabrication.
- Performs routine care and maintains preventive maintenance schedules, spare parts, and equipment documentation including manuals, utility requirements, lockout/tagout, and operating procedures.
- Ensures safe operation of all equipment and adherence to safety procedures and housekeeping standards.
Requirements
Qualifications:Required:- BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent 10 years of experience
- 5+ years hands-on engineering experience in a manufacturing, pilot plant, or R&D environment
- Comfortable setting up, running, and fixing industrial equipment; able to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and basic control problems
- Experience spec'ing and purchasing equipment and managing vendors through installation
- Basic fabrication skills (bandsaw, drill press, hand tools, 3D printing); able to run a CNC
- Proficient with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software and able to produce drawings for fabrication
- Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes including conveyors, pumps, heating methods, and drying
Preferred:- Experience with extrusion, injection molding, presses, or similar polymer processing equipment
- Experience with facility utilities (process cooling, compressed air, electrical) and equipment layouts
- Experience setting up new processes or scaling from lab to pilot production
- Welding and machining (lathes, mills)
Logistics: Position works full time out of Stone Mountain facility. Salary range: $75 - $130k, depending on experience.
Salary Description
Annual Salary + bonus
