R&D / Product Developer – Custom Durable Graphics

Role details

Position Summary

Central Decal, a manufacturer of custom durable graphics for OEM and industrial applications, is seeking a hands-on R&D / Product Developer.

This position will collaborate with production, quality, sales, customers and suppliers to develop new products, improve existing constructions, and solve technical manufacturing problems.

The ideal candidate has product-development experience involving screen printing, inks, coatings, films, adhesives, or decorated plastics. This is a collaborative technical position—not a standalone R&D department or people-management role.

About Central Decal

For more than 60 years, Central Decal has produced high-quality durable graphics for OEM customers, plastic molding companies, and assemblers throughout North America.

Our products include decals and labels, overlays, in-mold labels, domed graphics, badges, and dimensional emblems. Our processes include screen printing, digital imaging, flexography, doming, embossing, and die cutting.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in developing and commercializing new products, materials, and manufacturing processes.

• Improve existing products for performance, durability, appearance, quality, and manufacturability.

• Select, evaluate and qualify inks, coatings, films, adhesives, and related materials.

• Plan and conduct laboratory testing, press trials, and production trials.

• Troubleshoot adhesion, cure, drying, color, opacity, compatibility, and durability issues.

• Support projects involving decals, labels, overlays, IML/IMD and decorated plastic components.

• Translate customer requirements into product specifications and test plans.

• Work with production and quality teams during product scale-up and validation.

• Collaborate with customers and material suppliers to resolve technical problems.

• Document test results, product specifications, trial conditions and approved constructions.

• Support continuous-improvement and cost-reduction projects.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of product-development, R&D or technical-service experience involving durable graphics, industrial screen printing, labels, overlays, decorated plastics, inks, coatings or a closely related field.

• Practical knowledge of industrial inks and coatings, including UV-curable, solvent-based or water-based systems.

• Understanding of adhesion, cure, drying, intercoat compatibility and substrate selection.

• Hands-on experience moving products or processes from development through production.

• Experience evaluating materials and conducting structured technical trials.

• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills.

• Ability to work effectively with production employees, customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, materials science, polymer science, chemical engineering, printing technology or a related field—or equivalent directly relevant industry experience.

Preferred Experience

• Industrial screen printing or functional printing.

• Polyester, polycarbonate, vinyl, treated polyethylene or polypropylene films.

• In-mold labeling, in-mold decoration, or formed graphics.

• First- and second-surface printing.

• Metallics, textures, dead-front graphics, display windows, or specialty effects.

• Outdoor-weatherable or chemical-resistant OEM graphics.

• UL 969, PPAP or customer-specific product qualification.

• Experience working with ink manufacturers and other technical material suppliers.

Compensation and Benefits

Expected base salary

Competitive based on directly relevant experience and technical capabilities.

Benefits

Vacation/PTO, Insurance PPO, HD PPO, & HMO. Dental/Vision insurance offered, 401k with 4% match

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé and a brief description of a product-development or manufacturing problem you personally helped solve, including your role and the result.

Send applications to:

bkaplan@centraldecal.com

Central Decal Company is an equal opportunity employer.