Material Developer Thermoplastics
Job Description
As a Material Developer Thermoplastics (m/f/diverse), you will play a key role in developing and optimizing innovative thermoplastic material solutions that enhance product performance, support sustainability goals, and contribute to cost-efficient manufacturing processes across our global product portfolio.
Your responsibilities:
- Scout, evaluate and qualify new raw materials, additives and thermoplastic compounds to enhance product performance, sustainability and cost competitiveness.
- Continuously improve existing material solutions through formulation optimization, performance monitoring and lifecycle management, including portfolio consolidation, within the area of responsibility, primarily rigid and flexible PVC compounds.
- Develop processable, robust and sustainable thermoplastic compound formulations. Plan, execute and interpret laboratory and pilot-scale compounding trials in the Plastics Compounding Tech Center and at external toll compounders.
- Characterize and validate material performance using standard and advanced analytical methods and translate results into formulation improvements.
- Approve new raw materials and drive their implementation within the chemical recipe management system.
- Create and maintain material specifications, technical standards and formulation documentation.
- Manage material change requests and support industrialization, manufacturing and quality-related activities.
- Provide technical expertise to cross-functional teams, suppliers and customers regarding PVC and thermoplastic material solutions.
Qualifications
- University degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Plastics Engineering or a related discipline.
- Deep expertise in PVC formulation and compounding, including both rigid and flexible PVC systems.
- Strong understanding of PVC additives, stabilization systems, plasticizers, fillers, processing aids and performance modifiers.
- Practical experience in thermoplastic compounding, formulation development and scale-up activities. Several years of professional experience in the plastics industry are desirable.
- Analytical mindset, solid knowledge of analytical and characterization methods for thermoplastics, particularly PVC (e.g., DSC, TGA, DMA, FTIR, rheology, mechanical testing and weathering methods) and a solid understanding of structure–property relationships.
- Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies such as Ishikawa, 5 Why, DOE, FMEA and statistical data analysis.
- Desirable: additional experience with thermoplastic elastomers, polyamides, polypropylene or other engineering thermoplastics.
- Experience with PVC materials used in fluid handling, industrial, construction or transportation applications is considered a strong advantage.
- Fluent in English
You - inspire your stakeholder and contact partner with an effective communication of high intercultural sensitivity,
- are comfortable working in an international environment and collaborating with global stakeholders and are willing to travel internationally (up to 10% of working time),
- are convinced that networking and knowledge sharing are key drivers for success,
- are open for new working styles and new processes.
Additional Information
At Continental we are committed to building an inclusive and discrimination-free ecosystem in Mexico, these principles are rooted in our corporate philosophy and culture. Therefore, it is totally forbidden to request a pregnancy or HIV test as part of our selection processes.
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Company Description
Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 78,000 people in 54 countries and markets.
ContiTech is one of the world’s leading material experts for industry applications. The Continental group sector offers its customers reliable, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 20,000 employees (Status as of March 2026) at more than 60 sites globally, and sales of some 6.0 billion euros (2025), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America