Executive – Polymer R&D : Lead PVC compound development, drive production and process support, and oversee quality control testing for footwear applications.

Location: Mysore Manufacturing Facility

Duties & Responsibilities

1. PVC Compounding & Development:

a. Formulate and optimize PVC compounds for outsoles and midsoles (open footwear and lifestyle shoes) to meet target specifications for tear strength, abrasion resistance, hardness, and flex-crack resistance.

b. Formulate value-added compounds, including cork-filled PVC soles and high-elasticity/rubbery-touch soles.

c. Develop specialized polymer alloys/blends incorporating PVC with NBR, SEBS, and EVA.

d. Optimize existing formulations to reduce weight without compromising physical performance.

2. Production & Process Support:
Collaborate with production teams to scale up and commercialize R&D developments on the shop floor.

a. Troubleshoot operational and quality issues during mass production.

b. Optimize processing parameters across high/low-speed mixers (hot & cold), PVC injection moulding machines, and rotary machines.

3. Testing & Characterization:
Perform physical testing and material characterization (e.g., rheology/MDR, tensile strength, hardness, abrasion, and flex fatigue) to ensure quality compliance.

4. Documentation & Compliance:
Establish SOPs for compounding and injection processes, ensuring strict shop-floor adherence.

a. Document lab experiments, pilot trials, and production batches to facilitate seamless technology transfer and commercialization.

5. Qualifications & Requirements

a. Education: B.E. / B. Tech in Polymer Engineering, Polymer Technology, Rubber Technology, or a related field.

b. Experience: 3–4 years of relevant experience in polymer processing (e.g., PVC compounds, cables, pipes, or compounding plants), with direct experience in rigid/flexible PVC palletisation.

c. Technical Exposure: Hands-on experience with PVC compounding and processing machinery, including hot/cold mixers, kneaders, ribbon blenders, pelletizers, and PVC injection moulding units.

d. Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities applicable to both laboratory testing and plant-level operations.

6. Key Competencies

a. Explorative Mindset: Ability to translate market and customer needs into functional compound properties using available machinery and innovative formulations.

b. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong teamwork skills to bridge R&D, Production, Quality, and Maintenance functions seamlessly.

7. Performance Expectations

a. Timely Execution: Consistently meet project milestones, execution targets, and delivery deadlines.

b. Continuous Improvement: Continuously optimize formulations, plant yields, cycle times, and testing protocols.

c. Proactive Innovation: Take initiative in shop-floor problem-solving and stay updated on industry trends by participating in trade expos and technical seminars.

Job Requirements: PVC compound development, Production support, Process support, Quality control testing, PVC compounding, Polymer alloys/blends development, Polymer processing, PVC palletisation, Troubleshooting, Processing parameter optimization, Hot-speed mixers, Low-speed mixers, Cold mixers, PVC injection moulding machines, Rotary machines, Physical testing, Material characterization, Rheology/MDR testing, Tensile strength testing, Hardness testing, Abrasion testing, Flex fatigue testing, Documentation, SOP establishment, Lab experiments documentation, Pilot trials documentation, Technology transfer, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Technology, Rubber Technology, Analytical skills, Troubleshooting abilities, Explorative mindset, Cross-functional collaboration, Project milestone management, Continuous improvement, Plant yield optimization, Cycle time optimization, Testing protocol optimization, Proactive innovation, Shop-floor problem-solving, Industry trend awareness

Executive - Polymer R&D

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