Application Developer - Personal Protection

Job Description

In this role you will develop new application concepts, incl. norm/standard setting, certifications and new application test methods to generate profitable business for Avient Protective Materials (APM). For this specific vacancy the focal area will be on ballistic protection applications in the APM Personal Protection segment, a.o. SB vest solutions, hard ballistic plates, stab‑resistant solutions, and helmets. Based in Stanley (NC), or willingness to be there 3 days a week.

Willingness to travel to Greenville (NC) occasionally, and travel to customers, end users and trade shows.

• Build up and maintain application and industry expertise and know-how and use this knowledge to develop new application concepts, supported by norm/standard setting, certifications and new application test methods.
• Roll out these concepts to customers and end users, thereby acting as knowledge holder supporting marketing & sales.
• Translate market trends and developments, as well as customer demands into application development initiatives. Ensure that these fit in the APM marketing and innovation long term strategies.
• Lead and execute application development projects either as project leader or as project member in a multidisciplinary team, including APM product and process development and technical centers, materials scientists, M&S and operations.
• Connect externally to industrial partners, universities and external institutes for production of product prototypes and know‑how development, including testing, benchmarking and validation.
• Connect to end user institutes to demonstrate the value of our products in (new) end applications and support in setting application requirements.
• Maintain contacts with equipment suppliers in order to ensure the development of new equipment or the adaptation of existing equipment for the production and testing of new applications.
• Present results, new concepts and innovative product performance at customers, trade shows and conferences.
• Transfer new know‑how to M&S ADTS and in case of complex application issues, support M&S ADTS at customers.
• Support and coach technicians in APM’s innovation centers.
• Report general trends in application development (including competitor developments) and report on progress of own projects.
• Be aware of and act on opportunities or threats in IP.

• Master’s Degree in either mechanical or textile engineering, chemical technology or a related engineering field. Strong skills in mechanics and mechanical engineering is a plus.
• Significant (minimal 5 years) experience in customer and/or end user markets/applications in the field of ballistic protection in fiber‑based hard and soft ballistic applications. Additional experience in textiles and textile engineering is a plus.
• Broad understanding of processing and performance of fiber‑based materials in ballistic applications, supported by a solid conceptual understanding of composite materials behavior, the mechanics thereof, and experimental testing methods, including ballistic tests.
• High drive to translate and implement new concepts and products into applications.
• Experience in guiding Product Development to develop new material concepts, by translating application requirements into product (material) requirements.
• Experience in guiding (materials) scientists in generation of mechanistic understanding to build the required competence, and in implementing the results in application development.
• Experience in using a network of external institutes / facilities to support application development, preferably in the field of ballistics.
• Good connector between technical and commercial functions – bridging the gap.
• Good communication, social and coaching skills combined with good analytical and conceptual capabilities.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; sit; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and/or hear.
• May occasionally be required to lift, push or pull up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities may require close vision, distance vision, color…