Ametalin Hiring! Full Time R-D Engineer – Polymer, Adhesive - Material Development in Perak, Earn up to MYR 9,000 - Ricebowl

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant industrial experience in polymer materials, adhesive technology, extrusion, coating, lamination, polymer compounding, flexible packaging, composite materials or related industries.
• Practical experience in at least one or more of the following areas: polymer materials, adhesive technology, plastic or polymer extrusion, extrusion coating or extrusion lamination, adhesive lamination, coating, polymer compounding, flexible packaging or composite materials.
• Strong understanding of polymer properties, material compatibility and material processing.
• Hands-on experience with material testing, laboratory development, production trials and technical troubleshooting.
• Practical understanding of the relationship between material properties and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with adhesive application, bonding, coating or lamination processes will be an advantage.
• Experience with polymer materials such as PE, PP and other polyolefin materials will be an advantage.
• Experience with polymer additives, functional polymers, compatibilisers or adhesion promoters will be an advantage.
• Ability to analyse material-related problems and develop practical solutions.
• Experience in scaling up laboratory developments to production or commercial manufacturing will be highly considered.
• Experience in contributing to machine design, process development or equipment upgrades will be highly considered.
• Understanding of building materials, hygrothermal performance or fire dynamics will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to think independently and generate innovative technical solutions.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey technical information.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional and team-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards and compliance related to chemical or polymer materials will be an advantage.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Job Summary

This role is responsible for the research, development, evaluation and optimisation of polymer materials, adhesives and composite products used in the Company’s manufacturing processes. The R&D Engineer will focus on polymer and material development, adhesive and bonding performance, extrusion, coating and lamination applications, material compatibility and technical troubleshooting.

The successful candidate will work closely with R&D, Production, Quality, Procurement and other relevant departments to develop new products, improve existing products, evaluate alternative materials and resolve material or process-related issues. The position requires strong technical and problem-solving skills, a hands-on approach to laboratory and production trials, and the ability to translate laboratory findings into practical and commercially viable manufacturing solutions.

Roles and Responsibilities

Testing and Data Analysis

• Perform analysis and testing of polymer materials, adhesives and finished products to ensure they meet required specifications and performance standards.
• Develop and improve testing methods for evaluating material properties and product performance.
• Analyse and interpret laboratory, production and external testing data.
• Support material characterisation and evaluation using appropriate analytical and testing techniques.

Research and Development

• Develop, test and optimise polymer formulations, adhesive systems and material combinations for extrusion, coating, lamination and other applications.
• Conduct research and development to innovate new products and improve existing products.
• Evaluate polymer properties, material compatibility and bonding performance between different substrates.
• Investigate and optimise the use of polymers, additives, adhesion promoters and other functional materials.
• Evaluate alternative raw materials to improve product performance, reduce cost or reduce supply risk.
• Conduct laboratory, pilot and production trials to validate new materials and product concepts.
• Support the scale-up of successful laboratory developments into commercial production.
• Stay current with advancements in polymer science, adhesive technology and material processing to ensure the Company remains competitive in the market.

Adhesive, Bonding and Lamination Development

• Evaluate and develop suitable bonding solutions for different materials and substrates.
• Investigate and optimise adhesive and bonding performance for applications involving polymer films, aluminium foil, fibreglass, paper, nonwoven materials, woven materials, PU foam and other composite substrates.
• Evaluate different adhesive technologies and bonding mechanisms where applicable.
• Investigate issues relating to poor adhesion, delamination, blocking, incomplete bonding, moisture-related failures and other material-related product failures.
• Work with suppliers to evaluate and develop suitable adhesive and material solutions for specific product requirements.
• Support the development and optimisation of extrusion lamination, adhesive lamination, coating and other material bonding processes.

Polymer and Material Development

• Evaluate the suitability of polymer materials for new and existing products.
• Develop and optimise polymer blends and material formulations where required.
• Support the selection of suitable materials based on performance, processability, cost and product requirements.
• Investigate the compatibility of different polymers, substrates and functional materials.
• Support the evaluation of materials including polyethylene, polypropylene and other polymer materials used in the Company’s products and processes.
• Investigate the use of additives, compatibilisers, adhesion promoters and other functional materials to improve product performance.
• Evaluate material alternatives and develop suitable substitution plans when required.

Product Innovation, Research and Development

• Sustain intellectual property (IP) documentation and applications.
• Update the PTSA based on current manufacturing setup and conditions.
• Develop and improve standard templates for technical and process troubleshooting.
• Develop and improve process control checklists and relevant technical documentation.
• Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies and advancements in polymer, adhesive and material technologies.
• Generate ideas for continuous improvement and innovation in product and material development.
• Support the development of new products from initial concept through laboratory development, production trials and commercialisation.

Supplier Collaborations

• Identify, evaluate and collaborate with potential suppliers of polymers, adhesives, additives and other material solutions to ensure quality and performance requirements are met.
• Review and evaluate supplier technical information, including material specifications, TDS and SDS.
• Work with suppliers to develop and validate alternative or improved material solutions.
• Collaborate with the Procurement team to support technical evaluation of suppliers and materials, ensuring cost-effectiveness, quality and supply reliability.
• Participate in technical discussions and trials with suppliers where required.

Provide Assistance and Technical Support

• Provide technical support and expertise in polymer, adhesive and material-related matters to other departments, including Production, Quality Control, Procurement and Sales.
• Support Production and Engineering teams in material and process optimisation.
• Assist in evaluating the technical suitability of new raw materials and products.
• Provide technical input for customer or internal product-related issues where required.

Troubleshooting for Product or Process Abnormalities

• Identify and investigate root causes when products or manufacturing processes do not meet required quality or performance standards.
• Investigate material-related issues involving polymers, adhesives, bonding, extrusion, coating and lamination.
• Design and conduct structured experiments to validate technical hypotheses and identify root causes.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to resolve abnormalities and prevent recurrence.
• Work with cross-functional teams to improve product quality, process stability and manufacturing performance.

Chemical Safety and Compliance Support

• Support the review and improvement of existing procedures related to chemical handling, storage and disposal.
• Assist in identifying chemical hazards associated with new materials and manufacturing processes.
• Support relevant chemical safety and compliance activities in collaboration with the Process and Compliance Manager and other relevant departments.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant chemical safety standards and regulations.
• Provide technical input for SDS, chemical assessments and other material-related safety documentation where required.

Documentation and Record Maintenance

• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of research, development, testing and production trial activities.
• Prepare technical reports, trial reports, material evaluation reports and troubleshooting reports.
• Maintain relevant material specifications, development records and technical documentation.
• Ensure proper documentation of product and process development activities.
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned from time to time.