R&D Engineer, Composites

Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data and the environment. Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, we provide value-adding products including apparel, footwear and speciality threads.

Role Pupose We are looking for a hands-on, proactive, and passionate R&D professional to join our growing team and help drive the next generation of composite solutions for the Telecom and Energy markets. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on developing advanced materials, turning innovative ideas into commercial success, and bringing new technologies from concept to market.

Reporting to the Senior Innovation Manager, this role plays a critical part in developing breakthrough products, advancing manufacturing technologies, and translating customer and market needs into scalable, high-performance solutions that support critical infrastructure around the world. What you will do Develop new products and manufacturing processes, as well as the modification of existing solutions ensuring alignment with market trends and specific customer requirements.

Serve as the technical liaison and subject‑matter expert between business units and internal or external manufacturing locations, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer and technical alignment. Provide technical expertise to upstream manufacturing technologies, driving continuous improvement in current processes and supporting the scale‑up of new capabilities.

Act as project lead for strategic R&D initiatives, managing scope, timelines, technical risk, and cross‑functional collaboration to ensure successful execution. Perform materials characterization and performance validation, including mechanical testing, data analysis, and interpretation to support product specifications and qualification. Drive innovation projects through a structured stage-gate process, ensuring effective project execution, technical documentation, successful commercialization, and the protection of intellectual property opportunities, including patents.

Conduct applied research and maintain knowledge of industry trends, emerging materials, and advanced extrusion technologies, translating insights into actionable innovation opportunities. What we’re looking for Core Requirements Bachelor's degree in Polymer Science, Industrial Engineering/Design, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or related discipline. + 5 years’ of hands-on work experience in composite development, manufacturing, or product engineering.

Proven experience in materials characterization, specifically testing and analyzing mechanical properties. Strong communication skills and ability to interface with all stakeholders in the development process. Strong team orientation and ability to collaborate. Ability to analyze samples and determine construction and characteristic information into product specification.

Strong team orientation and comfort working in cross‑functional, high-paced and multicultural environments. Willingness to travel for day trips to manufacturing sites and occasional overnight travel to customers or industry events. Highly preferred (a strong plus): Familiarity with the state-of-the-art technologies in extrusion, coatings, die design and common post-production techniques.

Experience in manufacturing and new product development of extruded plastic profiles. Posgraduate studies in a relevant technical discipline. Who you are You are highly motivated, self-driven, and open-minded professional who is comfortable thinking outside the box while maintaining discipline in execution and technical rigor. If you’re ready to lead shape new product platforms and grow within a high‑potential global business, we'd love to hear from you.