Printing Process Engineer; Remote

Position: Printing Process Engineer (Remote)
Job Title:

Printing Process Engineer

Job Description

This contract role offers an experienced Printing Process Engineer the opportunity to lead end-to-end development of advanced printing processes on polymer substrates, with a strong focus on polyurethane and rubber/elastomer materials. You will drive a rebranding initiative across multiple product lines by designing and implementing durable, high-quality, full-color graphics solutions for consumer-facing products used in demanding, outdoor environments. The position combines deep technical expertise in adhesion science, surface treatment, and printing technologies with hands-on process engineering, from concept and prototyping through to scalable production.

Responsibilities

+ Lead the development of end-to-end printing process flows on polymer substrates, including preparation, printing, curing, and post-treatment steps.

+ Design and optimize printing processes specifically for polyurethane, rubber, and elastomer-based products, ensuring strong adhesion and long-term durability.

+ Analyze and manage the interplay between materials and printing processes, with a focus on low surface energy substrates and their adhesion challenges.

+ Evaluate and implement various printing technologies, with a strong emphasis on inkjet printing and thermal transfer or similar methods, to determine the most suitable approach for each application.

+ Develop new printing solutions from scratch where existing methods do not meet branding or performance requirements, treating the work as a true research and development initiative.

+ Apply and refine surface treatment techniques such as plasma, corona treatment, and primer or chemical surface preparation to enhance adhesion.

+ Leverage a strong grounding in adhesion science to troubleshoot issues, improve bond strength, and ensure consistent print quality under weathering and UV exposure.

+ Work on printing solutions for durable or outdoor graphics, ensuring resistance to environmental factors while maintaining high-quality aesthetics.

+ Support consumer-facing product branding upgrades by delivering visually appealing, full-color graphics that align with design and marketing goals.

+ Scale successful printing processes from prototype to full production, including documentation, process control, and transfer to manufacturing environments.

+ Collaborate with plant personnel, suppliers, and other stakeholders during site visits to implement and refine printing processes on production equipment.

+ Contribute technical insights from industries such as sporting goods, tire and rubber manufacturing, or other polymer-heavy product environments to inform best practices and innovation.

Essential Skills

+ Minimum of 12 years of experience in printing process engineering or closely related fields.

+ Deep experience printing on polymer substrates, particularly polyurethane (PU) and rubber or elastomer materials.

+ Strong understanding of material and process interplay, especially as it relates to printing performance and adhesion.

+ Expertise in addressing adhesion challenges on low surface energy materials.

+ Hands-on experience with inkjet printing technologies, highly preferred.

+ Hands-on experience with thermal transfer printing or similar processes.

+ Experience working with multiple printing technologies and not being limited to a single method.

+ Proven ability to develop complete process flows from preparation through printing, curing, and post-treatment.

+ Strong grounding in adhesion science, including the principles that govern bonding to polymers and elastomers.

+ Practical experience with surface treatments such as plasma and corona treatment.

+ Experience using primers or chemical surface preparation methods to improve adhesion.

+ Background working with durable or outdoor graphics that must withstand weathering and UV exposure.

+ Experience supporting consumer-facing product aesthetics and branding upgrades.

+ Demonstrated success in scaling processes from prototype to production in a manufacturing environment.

+ Industry experience in sporting goods, tire or rubber manufacturing, or other polymer-heavy product environments.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Experience contributing to high-visibility rebranding initiatives across multiple product lines.

+ Familiarity with full-color graphics printing on complex geometries or challenging substrates.

+ Exposure to international manufacturing or supplier networks, including coordination of technical activities across different sites.

+ Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and branding or marketing stakeholders.

+ Strong problem-solving skills and a research and development mindset, with the ability to create new solutions where no proven approach exists.

+ Comfort working in environments similar to major tire, rubber, or sporting goods manufacturers and adapting best practices from those industries.

Work Environment

This is a contract role…