R&D Engineer - Consumer Goods (Adhesive)

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Job Description:

Job Description: R&D Engineer - Consumer Goods (Adhesive)

Location: Bengaluru, India (R&D Centre)

Position Type: Full-time

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced R&D Engineer to join R&D team in Bengaluru. This role drives the end-to-end development of premier consumer mounting systems, technical tapes, and Home Improvement solutions under iconic global portfolios like the 3M Command Brand and Scotch Brand. The ideal candidate balances hands-on laboratory formulation with the technical management of external manufacturing partners (CMOs/ODMs). You will bridge the gap between bench-scale polymer chemistry and commercial-scale production using a scientific work approach, a strong collaborative mindset, and robust intellectual property awareness.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulation Design: Synthesize, modify, and optimize pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), specialized sealants, and elastomeric functional coatings directly in our Bengaluru laboratory.
• Material Sourcing: Evaluate, select, and integrate structural backing films, liner materials, and specialized foams from global suppliers for high-performance, damage-free mounting applications.
• Vendor Management: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external manufacturing partners to oversee technology transfer, pilot runs, and scale-up trials.
• Lab-to-Scale Translation: Convert benchtop formulations into robust, high-speed manufacturing processes including slot-die coating, lamination, and web converting.
• Intellectual Property Protection: Navigate complex patent landscapes, identify competitive white spaces, and draft technical documentation to support freedom-to-operate (FTO) evaluations.
• Specification Ownership: Author raw material specifications, finished goods requirements, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and tech-transfer packages using standard documentation tools.
• Quality & Validation: Lead root-cause analysis for manufacturing deviations and establish rigorous mechanical test methods (peel, shear, tack, fluid absorption, and stretch-release profiles).

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Experience: Minimum 3-8 years of consumer goods product development experience, specifically covering adhesives, sealants, and nonwovens.
• Formulation Expertise: Demonstrated success in hands-on formulation of acrylic, rubber, or silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesives.
• External Manufacturing: Proven experience managing technical relationships, quality audits, or production scale-ups with external contract manufacturers.
• Product Background: Direct application history contributing to commercially successful double-sided mounting systems, clear tapes, utility hooks, or heavy-duty mechanical mounting tools.
• Software Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for data reporting, documentation, and presentations.
• Language Skills: Professional fluency in spoken and written English, Hindi, and the regional language to effectively collaborate with local teams and manufacturing partners.
• Travel: Flexibility to travel to vendor sites for trials, product validation and supplier audits.

Core Competencies

• Scientific Approach: A structured, methodology-driven work approach to research, development, and laboratory testing.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and logical reasoning skills to troubleshoot production issues and interpret complex material test data.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills tailored for technical reporting and vendor negotiations.
• Mindset & Teamwork: A proactive "Can-do" attitude and a proven track record as an effective, highly cooperative team player.

Preferred Skills

• Statistical Tools: Competency in Design of Experiments (DoE) software to optimize multi-variable lab formulations efficiently.
• Project Management: Familiarity with Stage-Gate product development processes and managing cross-functional timelines.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of ISO, ASTM, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and global regulatory constraints relevant to consumer goods (e.g., REACH, RoHS, VOC limits).

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