Development Manager, Automobile

conception, formulation, testing, and scaling up

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Formulation & Development (Core Focus)

• Lead the R&D cycle for new polymer products targeting automotive applications (e.g., under-the-hood, interior, exterior, and emerging EV components).
• Design and optimize

  polymer compound formulations

  (using base resins, additives, fillers, reinforcement agents, and color masterbatches) to achieve required technical properties such as:
• Mechanical strength (tensile, flexural, impact).
• Thermal stability (HDT, Vicat softening point).
• Flame retardancy (UL94 ratings).
• Aesthetics (low scratch, color matching, low gloss).
• Regulatory compliance (Low VOC, heavy metals).
• Conduct systematic

  design of experiments (DOE)

  to efficiently refine formulations and optimize processing parameters on laboratory-scale and pilot-scale compounding equipment (e.g., twin-screw extruders).

2. Material Testing & Validation

• Oversee and execute comprehensive physical, chemical, and analytical testing of new formulations using standard polymer testing equipment (e.g., universal testing machine, melt flow indexer, spectrophometer, rheometer).
• Correlate laboratory test results with required

  OEM standards and specifications

  (e.g., Ford WSS-M4D, Maruti Suzuki MSES).
• Manage the generation and maintenance of comprehensive technical datasheets (TDS) and safety datasheets (SDS) for all developed automotive products.

3. Process Scale-up & Technical Transfer

• Successfully transition validated laboratory formulations to commercial-scale production processes, collaborating closely with the Production and Process Engineering teams.
• Define and optimize critical processing parameters (temperature profile, screw configuration, feed rate) for new products on production-scale compounding lines to ensure

  repeatability and quality

  .
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical formulation and processing issues that arise during initial production trials.

• 4. Technical Support & Documentation

• Provide high-level, internal technical support to the Quality and Technical Service teams regarding the performance and characteristics of the automotive product range.
• Ensure all new materials comply with automotive documentation requirements, specifically supporting data generation for

  IMDS (International Material Data System)

  submissions.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Education:

  Master's or Ph.D. in

  Polymer Engineering, Plastics Technology, Materials Science

  , or a closely related field.

• Experience:

  15+ years of dedicated R&D/Formulation experience in

  polymer compounding, masterbatches, or high-performance plastics

  , with a minimum of 4 years focused on materials for the

  Automotive Industry

  .

• Hands-on Expertise:

  Proven, practical experience in formulating and testing engineering plastics (e.g., PA, PBT, PC/ABS, TPEs, FR grades) and polyolefin compounds (e.g., Talc/GF filled PP).

• Core Technical Knowledge:

  Expert understanding of

  polymer science, compounding techniques, additive technology

  , and standard automotive material testing protocols (e.g., heat aging, weathering, impact testing).

• Industry Standards:

  Familiarity with the structure and requirements of major global automotive material specifications and quality standards (e.g., IATF 16949).