Materials Engineer - Filter Media

Job description

ROLE SUMMARY This is an Onsite position based at our location in Gastonia, NC. No Visa sponsorships are available for this position. MANN+HUMMEL is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Materials Engineer to serve as a technical expert in raw materials, material performance, and durability. This role is responsible for developing and implementing material standards, supporting innovation initiatives, managing technical knowledge, and providing strategic guidance on material selection and application. The successful candidate will work closely with product development, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, customers, suppliers, and external research organizations to ensure materials meet performance, quality, and business requirements. As a key member of the engineering team, the Materials Engineer will drive continuous improvement, support new product development, evaluate emerging technologies, and contribute to MANN+HUMMEL's innovation and intellectual property strategies JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Material Standards & Technical Leadership • Develop, maintain, and implement technical standards for designated raw material groups • Define material specifications and qualification requirements for new products and applications • Evaluate and approve materials for production use while ensuring compliance with performance and durability standards • Provide technical authority on material-related decisions, including authority to reject materials that do not meet requirements • Develop and continuously improve engineering procedures, test methods, and technical instructions Innovation & Product Development • Support advanced development projects through evaluation of new materials and technologies • Collaborate with Product Management and Advanced Development teams to identify innovative material solutions • Contribute to innovation roadmaps and technology strategies aligned with business objectives • Participate in the planning, execution, and implementation of innovation projects Intellectual Property & Technical Research • Support patent strategy development and assess invention disclosures • Monitor internal and competitive patent activities and emerging material technologies • Identify opportunities for innovation and intellectual property development Knowledge Management • Maintain and update engineering handbooks, material databases, and technical documentation • Capture project lessons learned and incorporate findings into engineering standards and best practices • Facilitate knowledge transfer across engineering, manufacturing, and global teams • Ensure technical information is accessible and available to stakeholders worldwide Cross-Functional Collaboration • Provide technical support to manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and supplier teams regarding material-related issues • Participate in root cause investigations, failure analysis, and corrective action activities • Support customer and supplier technical discussions, negotiations, and specification reviews • Collaborate with global engineering teams to standardize materials and best practices External Representation • Represent MANN+HUMMEL at technical conferences, industry events, trade shows, and exhibitions • Build and maintain relationships with universities, research institutions, suppliers, and industry organizations • Prepare and deliver technical presentations to customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders REQUIREMENTS Education & Experience: • Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline with minimum of 5 years of experience in materials engineering and raw materials in a large fast-paced manufacturing environment OR a Master's / Doctorate degree with a minimum of 2 years' experience • Experience with material qualification, performance testing, and durability validation • Proven experience supporting product development and manufacturing operations • Familiarity with material specifications, industry standards, and testing methodologies • The ability to travel up to 20% to other MANN+HUMMEL plants as well as to customer and supplier sites within the United States and Mexico as needed Preferred Education, Experience & Technical Skills: • Strong understanding of polymers, composites, filter media, and filtration materials • Master's / Doctorate degree preferred • Knowledge of material characterization techniques and failure analysis methods • Experience with material selection and fitness-for-use assessments • Understanding of manufacturing processes and material-process interactions • Proficiency in engineering analysis tools and Microsoft Office applications