Sandals - R&D - PVC & Polymer Professional

Executive - Polymer R&D: Lead PVC compound development, drive production and process support, and oversee quality control testing for footwear applications.

Location: Mysore Manufacturing Facility

Duties & Responsibilities

1. PVC Compounding & Development:

a. Formulate and optimize PVC compounds for outsoles and midsoles (open footwear and lifestyle shoes) to meet target specifications for tear strength, abrasion resistance, hardness, and flex-crack resistance.

b. Formulate value-added compounds, including cork-filled PVC soles and high-elasticity/rubbery-touch soles.

c. Develop specialized polymer alloys/blends incorporating PVC with NBR, SEBS, and EVA.

d. Optimize existing formulations to reduce weight without compromising physical performance.

2. Production & Process Support: Collaborate with production teams to scale up and commercialize R&D developments on the shop floor.

a. Troubleshoot operational and quality issues during mass production.

b. Optimize processing parameters across high/low-speed mixers (hot & cold), PVC injection moulding machines, and rotary machines.

3. Testing & Characterization: Perform physical testing and material characterization (e.g., rheology/MDR, tensile strength, hardness, abrasion, and flex fatigue) to ensure quality compliance.

4. Documentation & Compliance: Establish SOPs for compounding and injection processes, ensuring strict shop-floor adherence.

a. Document lab experiments, pilot trials, and production batches to facilitate seamless technology transfer and commercialization.

5. Qualifications & Requirements

a. Education: B.E. / B. Tech in Polymer Engineering, Polymer Technology, Rubber Technology, or a related field.

b. Experience: 3-4 years of relevant experience in polymer processing (e.g., PVC compounds, cables, pipes, or compounding plants), with direct experience in rigid/flexible PVC palletisation.

c. Technical Exposure: Hands-on experience with PVC compounding and processing machinery, including hot/cold mixers, kneaders, ribbon blenders, pelletizers, and PVC injection moulding units.

d. Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities applicable to both laboratory testing and plant-level operations.

6. Key Competencies

a. Explorative Mindset: Ability to translate market and customer needs into functional compound properties using available machinery and innovative formulations.

b. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong teamwork skills to bridge R&D, Production, Quality, and Maintenance functions seamlessly.

7. Performance Expectations

a. Timely Execution: Consistently meet project milestones, execution targets, and delivery deadlines.

b. Continuous Improvement: Continuously optimize formulations, plant yields, cycle times, and testing protocols.

c. Proactive Innovation: Take initiative in shop-floor problem-solving and stay updated on industry trends by participating in trade expos and technical seminars.