Sr Engineer R & D

The Senior Product Research and Development Engineer (Sr. Engineer R&D) leads product development initiatives for the Owens Corning North American Fiberglass Insulation Product Development team. The Product Research and Development Engineer drives advancements that will lead to the improvement of existing products as well as the development of the next generation of products. This position is key to enabling continued growth throughout our insulation business LRP cycle, requiring proficiency in activities associated with product development, including, but not limited to, technology scouting, concept development, prototype testing and evaluation, workstream management, and product qualification testing. Good communication skills and being able to speak to all levels of the organization are required, as this position works closely with Product Managers, R&D, Legal, and Manufacturing.

Reports to: Fiberglass Insulation Product Development Leader

Span of Control:  Individual Contributor

Job Location: Granville, OH – Science and Technology

Safer Together

• Actively participates in monthly safety meetings
• Ensures rigorous compliance with safety procedures and OC corporate policies
• Focuses on sustaining a safe work environment for self and coworkers

Technical Project Leadership

• Provide technical leadership on critical fiberglass insulation product development projects.
• Interact with cross-functional teams, including legal, purchasing, sales, marketing, project management, operations/manufacturing, and process engineering to ensure product development creations meet business standards and project criteria.
• Organize and lead workstreams critical to project success. Delegate actions, lead workstream meetings, and communicate technical progress to project managers and other key collaborators.
• Work with manufacturing plant leaders, business leaders, and project managers to support business case development for new and improved products.
• Participate in the development of product strategy to understand the innovation and financial impacts of projects and ensure project goals are clearly defined.
• Communicate effectively at a technical level within the organization.

• Lead or assist with managing project information in VelOCity, our corporate stage-gate project management tool.
• Ensure product meets compliance and claims by following the product qualification process, validating relevant data as it is collected.

Product Research, Development, and Innovation

• Assist in generating technical insights which can lead to discovering product intellectual property and novelty.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative tools to translate customer needs into product improvement recommendations and new product development opportunities.
• Drive innovative products and performance claims to the marketplace to secure a competitive advantage and product differentiation.

• Conceive, plan, design, and conduct customer research related to the development of fiberglass insulation products.
• Provide directional guidance, in the form of workstream leadership and team mentoring, to the preparation of prototypes in lab and trials in the plant, to include monitoring, organizing, and interpreting results.
• Draw conclusions from data and make decisions for implementing improvements to products.
• Interact with top technical leaders, suppliers, and third-party experts to enable development of new innovative solutions and technologies to address complex challenges.
• Prepare technical reports, memo reports, and technical presentations.

Protect OC Intellectual Property

• File Invention Records on all innovations early-on in the innovation process
• Write and file technical and memo reports in a timely manner
• Understand and ensure communication with non-OC contacts is covered under NDA when applicable

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in Engineering or related Scientific or Technical Field; or bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field with 5+ years of experience in product and/or process development.

• 2-3 years’ experience managing all technical aspects of a medium to large project, from conception to industrialization.
• Experience developing intellectual property, including patents and technology licenses.

• Experience with products research and customer interviewing activities.

• Experience with statistical analysis, data analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time is required (varies depending on project need).

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced degree in Engineering or related Scientific or Technical Field with 5+ years of experience in product and/or process development.
• Planning and conducting products research with customers.
• Demonstrated task management effectiveness in R&D and/or manufacturing environments.
• Intimate knowledge of fiberglass product manufacturing equipment and technologies.
• Familiarity with a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative test methods.
• Experience with Minitab or JMP statistical software.

• 5+ years’ experience in an industrial operating environment.

• Ability to translate research findings into concise, meaningful, and actionable insights and next steps to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage across functions with product marketing, operations, and other internal and external teams.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Practices safety-conscious behaviors in all operational processes and procedures.
• Out of the box thinking and applying new approaches to existing challenges.

• Entrepreneurial spirit with ability to build strong relationships, collaborate, and work across multi-functional and discipline boundaries in a dynamic, multi-project environment.
• Strives for a deeper understanding of customer context and their needs.
• Curiosity-driven approach to problem solving.
• Strong desire for innovation and ownership of work.
• Team oriented, with high energy and desire to achieve results.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to present data to multifunctional audiences and drive the decision-making process.
• Excellent written, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide technical coaching and mentoring.

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About Owens Corning  

Owens Corning is a branded building products leader with three complementary market-leading businesses providing roofing, insulation, and doors primarily for residential markets in North America and Europe. The company operates with an integrated go-to-market strategy and a unique set of OC Advantages™ – including its iconic brand, unparalleled commercial strength, leading technology, and winning cost position – to help customers win and grow in the market. Owens Corning is committed to helping build better and achieve more through winning partnerships, leading performance, and engaging people. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OC). For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com. 

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.