The role
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Job Description:
Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and innovative Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials to lead the development, optimization, industrialization, and lifecycle management of polymer-based products and materials for Medium Voltage (MV) cable accessories and electrical applications.
This role will be responsible for translating customer and application requirements into innovative material and product solutions, with a strong focus on polymer formulation, product development, process development, manufacturing scale-up, validation, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in polymer science, formulation, processing, and product development, along with an understanding of electrical insulation and MV cable applications.
Key Responsibilities
Product & Material Development
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Lead the development and optimization of polymer and elastomeric formulations for electrical applications.
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Develop materials based on cross-linked polyolefins, EPDM/EPR, silicone, thermoplastic and thermoset systems, polymer blends, and composites.
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Develop and optimize materials to achieve required electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental performance.
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Design and develop products for MV cable accessories, including:
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Heat-shrinkable insulation tubes
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Stress-control tubes
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Anti-tracking components
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Breakout systems
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Cable joint and termination components
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Busbar insulation products
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Other specialized electrical insulation products
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Develop and improve specialty materials such as hot-melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, sealants, mastics, water-blocking compounds, semi-conductive compounds, and stress-control materials.
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Conduct material characterization, formulation optimization, product validation, and technical failure investigations.
Process Development & Manufacturing Scale-Up
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Develop, optimize, and validate manufacturing processes for polymeric and elastomeric products.
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Establish process parameters and operating windows for:
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Polymer compounding
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Twin-screw and single-screw extrusion
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Co-extrusion and multilayer extrusion
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Injection and compression molding
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Crosslinking processes
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Tube expansion technologies for heat-shrinkable products
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Adhesive coating and lamination
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Lead scale-up activities from laboratory and pilot development through commercial manufacturing.
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Establish robust process windows to achieve consistent product quality, high yields, and improved manufacturing efficiency.
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Conduct process capability studies and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
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Troubleshoot manufacturing issues related to materials, tooling, equipment, and process variation.
Electrical Product & Application Development
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Apply materials and polymer expertise to medium voltage cable systems, cable joints, terminations, and electrical insulation applications.
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Develop products to meet requirements for:
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Dielectric strength
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Electrical insulation performance
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Tracking and erosion resistance
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Thermal endurance
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Thermal conductivity
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Mechanical properties
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Environmental resistance
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Support product development involving stress control, electrical field grading, and insulation coordination.
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Collaborate with electrical, application, manufacturing, quality, and other technical teams to ensure product performance meets application requirements.
Product Industrialization & Lifecycle Management
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Lead product development activities from concept, formulation, prototype, and validation through industrialization and commercialization.
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Ensure successful technical transfer of new products and processes from R&D to manufacturing.
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Identify opportunities to improve existing products in terms of performance, quality, reliability, cost, and manufacturability.
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Provide technical support throughout the product lifecycle.
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Lead technical investigations related to product failures, customer complaints, and manufacturing issues.
Technical Documentation & Compliance
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Develop and maintain product specifications, formulations, manufacturing instructions, process specifications, and technical reports.
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Prepare and maintain Design FMEAs, Control Plans, validation documentation, and other technical records.
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Ensure products and processes comply with applicable quality, environmental, health, safety, regulatory, and industry requirements.
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Support testing and qualification activities against relevant electrical and cable industry standards.
Innovation & Cross-Functional Leadership
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Identify and evaluate new materials, technologies, processes, and product opportunities.
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Lead cross-functional product development projects involving R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Sourcing, and Commercial teams.
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Apply Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, SPC, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving to accelerate product development and improve process robustness.
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Communicate technical findings, project progress, risks, and recommendations effectively to technical and business stakeholders.
Qualifications
Education
Master's degree in one of the following disciplines:
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Polymer Engineering / Polymer Science
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Plastics Engineering
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Chemical Engineering
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Materials Science / Materials Engineering
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Rubber Technology
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Electrical Engineering with strong experience in polymers/materials
A Ph.D. or relevant postgraduate qualification will be an advantage.
Experience
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10+ years of relevant industrial experience in product development, polymer formulation, materials development, or process development.
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Strong hands-on experience in polymer formulation, processing, product development, and manufacturing scale-up.
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Experience in one or more of the following industries is highly desirable:
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Heat-shrinkable products
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Medium/high-voltage cable accessories
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Wire and cable
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Electrical insulation products
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Polymer compounding
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Rubber and elastomer products
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Specialty adhesives, sealants, or mastics
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Electrical materials
Technical Expertise
Required
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Polymer formulation and material development
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Polyolefin and elastomeric systems
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Polymer compounding and processing
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Extrusion technologies
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Product development and validation
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Manufacturing scale-up and industrialization
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Root-cause analysis and technical problem solving
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Cross-functional project management
Preferred
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Heat-shrinkable product technology
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Crosslinking technologies
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MV cable accessories
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Cable joints and terminations
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Electrical insulation materials
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Stress-control materials
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Anti-tracking materials
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Adhesives, sealants, and mastics
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Electrical field grading
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DoE and statistical process control
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FMEA and Control Plans
Key Competencies
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Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
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Innovation and product development mindset
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Strong understanding of polymer/material science
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Hands-on approach to technical problem solving
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Ability to translate material science into commercial products
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Strong project and stakeholder management skills
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Ability to work effectively across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Commercial teams
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Excellent technical communication, report writing, and presentation skills
Impact of the Role
This role will play a critical part in developing next-generation polymeric and electrical material solutions for MV cable accessories and related electrical applications.
The successful candidate will be expected to innovate materials, develop products, establish manufacturing processes, lead scale-up and commercialization, and continuously improve the product portfolio to deliver high-performance, reliable, and manufacturable solutions.
Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.
Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.
Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.
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