Senior Product Development Engineer

Location:

Washington, Iowa | Paid Relocation Assistance

Schedule:

Full-time, first shift Industry: Building and construction materials Build products that perform in the real world Brava is looking for a Senior Product Development Engineer to turn ideas into durable, manufacturable products for the building and construction industry.

Experience with injection molding, vacuum forming or thermoforming, and compression molding is especially valuable.

• Lead product development projects from early concepts through commercialization and launch.
• Develop polymer-based products and components for building and construction applications.
• Select and evaluate polymers, compounds, additives, fillers, reinforcements, and other materials to meet product requirements.
• Apply plastics processing expertise—including injection molding, vacuum forming or thermoforming, and compression molding—to product and process development.
• Work with manufacturing teams and external partners to create reliable, cost-effective production processes.
• Coordinate prototypes, tooling, molds, fabrication, and production trials.
• Define product specifications, performance requirements, test plans, and acceptance criteria.
• Plan and oversee laboratory, physical-property, durability, accelerated-weathering, and application testing.
• Analyze test results and turn findings into product, material, and design improvements.
• Troubleshoot material, processing, design, and manufacturing issues using root-cause analysis and structured problem solving.
• Lead design-for-manufacturing and design-for-cost efforts.
• Manage project schedules, milestones, budgets, risks, and deliverables across multiple projects.
• Coordinate with R&D, engineering, manufacturing, quality, sales and marketing, suppliers, and customers.
• Prepare development plans, technical reports, product specifications, test reports, and project updates.
• Support product launches and help resolve manufacturing or field issues.
• Contribute to intellectual property, regulatory, quality, and product documentation as needed.
• Keep up with developments in polymer technology, plastics processing, construction materials, sustainability, and relevant standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of product development or R&D engineering experience, preferably developing polymer-based products.
• Practical knowledge of thermoplastics, polymer blends and compounds, additives, fillers, and stabilizers.
• Hands-on experience with injection molding, vacuum forming or thermoforming, and compression molding.
• Understanding of how processing conditions affect product performance, appearance, dimensions, and manufacturability.
• Experience with material characterization and physical or mechanical property testing.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test results, and material data sheets.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Strong project planning and organizational skills, including the ability to manage several priorities at once.
• Ability to lead cross-functional work without direct authority.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to explain technical topics to varied audiences.
• Experience working with customers, suppliers, manufacturers, testing labs, and internal teams.
• Helpful experience Developing products for outdoor use or demanding construction environments.
• Polymer durability, UV and weathering performance, thermal performance, moisture resistance, and environmental exposure.
• Familiarity with building and construction materials and their applications.

Saige Partners, one of the fastest growing technology and talent companies in the Midwest, believes in people with a passion to help them succeed. We are in the business of helping professionals Build Careers, Not Jobs. Saige Partners believes employees are the most valuable asset to building a thriving and successful company culture.