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Materials Engineer (Entry Level)
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International Automotive Components
Troy, MI (In Person)
Full-Time
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Job Description
Kick‑start your plastics career by working on real automotive interior programs, supporting material selection, processing trials, launch support, and continuous improvement. This role is hands‑on : you'll run trials, build DOE plans, analyze results, and partner with plants and product engineering to solve quality issues and reduce cost. It's a strong match for grads with a plastics‑focused education grounded in processing, testing, and product development . What you'll do (you'll use what you learned in plastics school) Support development and implementation of polymer materials (resins, additives, colorants, coatings) for IAC components. Plan and execute trials/DOEs (processing windows, shrink/warp, appearance, performance) and summarize results in clear technical reports. Partner with manufacturing plants to analyze process + quality data , identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions. Provide hands‑on support for launches , warranty/quality topics, and cost‑saving initiatives (VAVE/Kaizen). Work with suppliers to gather material data and help evaluate new materials/technologies. Interface with customers (OEM materials/engineering teams) by presenting material concepts and performance data. Support sustainability initiatives , including material opportunities and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) activities. What you'll learn How automotive programs move from concept → launch (and how materials decisions affect quality, cost, and timing). How to write strong test plans/test requests , coordinate lab work, and communicate results to engineering and manufacturing. How to connect processing conditions to part performance (shrinkage, appearance, mechanical properties) and drive fixes quickly. Qualifications Bachelor's degree (or graduating soon) in Engineering/Science with a plastics focus preferred (Materials, Chemical, Chemistry, Plastics/Polymer/Manufacturing disciplines or equivalent experience). Comfort with hands‑on technical work: trials, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Willingness to travel up to 25% (plants, suppliers, customer support).