Compounding Engineer

Responsibilities

• Key responsibilities include:
• Lead the development, testing, and implementation of new material compounds to support productivity, quality, and business objectives.
• Develop standard work and scalable processes for evaluating and implementing compounding changes across production platforms.
• Use design of experiments and other analytical methods to assess formulation changes and their impact on manufacturing performance.
• Partner with operations, R&D, and leadership to solve production issues, improve processes, and support new product development.
• Coordinate laboratory work, pilot trials, and production trials to improve product performance, reduce scrap, and optimize cost efficiency.
• Analyze data using statistical tools and communicate findings clearly to technical and operational stakeholders.
• Collaborate with suppliers to stay current on new raw materials, equipment, and industry developments.
• Support formulation cost analysis, capital planning, and process improvement initiatives related to existing and new products.
• What You Bring
• Bachelor's degree from an ABET-accredited university in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, or Plastics Engineering.
• 3 to 5 years of hands-on plastics compounding experience, ideally in rigid or foamed PVC extrusion or a similar chemical or physical manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Experience with PVC extrusion processes and polymer formulation development.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma methodologies and tools such as DOE, DMAIC, FMEA, Fishbone, and 5-Why analysis.
• Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Skills for Success
• Strong collaborative problem-solving skills in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to make data-driven decisions to support compounding and extrusion plant operations.
• Strong organization, project management, and task prioritization skills.
• Ability to define problems, execute trials, analyze data, draw sound conclusions, and build consensus across technical and operational teams.
• Knowledge of polymer chemistry, manufacturing processes, testing, and material analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Physical Demands
• Work Environment
• Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance people's lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.
• Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.
• Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any chara

Benefits

Additional Information

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate. Westlake is hiring a Compounding Engineer in Bristol, TN to help drive formulation innovation, process improvement, and manufacturing performance. In this role, you will work closely with operations, R&D, suppliers, and business leaders to optimize compounds, solve production challenges, and support new product development. This is a strong opportunity for an engineer who enjoys hands-on plant support, cross-functional collaboration, and using data to improve quality, efficiency, and product performance. Why Join Us Make a direct impact on product and process innovation in a hands-on manufacturing environment. Collaborate with operations, R&D, and suppliers to improve quality, performance, and cost efficiency. Step into a high-visibility role where your technical expertise will help shape new products, improve plant performance, and drive measurable business impact.

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